1.  What happened to Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon?  Be specific.

2.  Under Israeli law, what happens with the leadership of Israel if the Prime Minister is no longer able to carry out his duties?

3.  What are the two main political parties in Israel (left-wing and right-wing)?  What is the name of the new party Mr. Sharon recently created?  Is it leftist or right-wing?

4.  Who is Ehud Olmert?  Why were Likud party members critical of Mr. Olmert?

5.  What will be a problem in the upcoming election if Mr. Sharon is no longer Prime Minister?  (If you're not sure, search for additional news articles about Mr. Sharon to find the answer.)
You can search two Israeli newspapers: The Jerusalem Post or Haaretz.