[JURIST] The Israeli Justice Ministry [official website] said Sunday that Israel will declare Prime Minister Ariel Sharon [official profile; BBC profile] officially incapacitated on Tuesday. Sharon has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke in early January. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert [BBC profile], who has been filling in since January and was elected to the post on March 28, is expected to be named Sharon's permanent replacement. Israeli constitutional law [Basic Law text] allows an acting prime minister to maintain the position for only 100 days before an official replacement is designated.

According to hospital officials, Sharon's chances for recovery are extremely slim and he may be moved to a long-term care facility. Olmert, a member of the Kadima Party [political party website], is currently negotiating with other political parties to form a governing coalition. AP has more.