World leaders on Wednesday delivered best wishes to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who had been hospitalized in Jerusalem after suffering a "significant stroke" and a cerebral hemorrhage.
"Prime Minister Sharon is a man of courage and peace. On behalf of all Americans, we send our best wishes and hopes to the prime minister and his family," US President George W. Bush said in a written statement.
"Laura and I share the concerns of the Israeli people about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's health, and we are praying for his recovery," Bush said.
Earlier Wednesday, US National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said "our thoughts and prayers are with the prime minister and his family."
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also wished for Sharon's recovery. "Solana is following the developments very closely and we can only wish the prime minister the best," said Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach.
In Israel, Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying that he was praying for Sharon's recovery and the success of his treatment.
Former prime minister Shimon Peres, who had recently left the Labor party to support Sharon's Kadima, said: "I am praying for his recovery."
Sharon's senior advisor Ra'anan Gissin said: "I have been working with the prime minister for the last 10 years. I can tell you, he's a warrior, he's a real fighter. He's fought many battles in his life and won them all. We hope that he will win this battle as well."
Israel's chief rabbis called on Jews to recite psalms and pray for Sharon's health.
Chairman of the Shinui Party Yosef Lapid, also wished the prime minister a quick recovery. "First of all, the whole nation -- both his friends, opponents and everyone else -- is worried and wishes him all the best and a quick recovery," he said.
Officials from the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) expressed concerns about the future of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
"On a purely humanitarian level we feel sorry for Mr. Sharon. Politically it will increase the uncertainty we are facing to get back to the peace process and maybe this uncertainty will continue through March (when Israel holds a national election)," former PNA minister Nabil Sha'ath said.

Sharon to undergo surgery for intra-cranial bleeding
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a "significant" stroke with "massive bleeding" in his brain late Wednesday night, according to a Hadassah Hospital official
Sharon's authority has been transferred to Vice Premier Ehud Olmert, Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon said.
In a brief statement outside the Jerusalem hospital, Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef said Sharon had suffered "a significant stroke," adding that he was "under anesthetic and receiving breathing assistance."
Mor-Yosef emerged to say that initial tests showed Sharon had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding inside his brain. According to him, Sharon had "massive bleeding and was being transferred to an operating theater."
Israeli Channel 2 TV said Sharon was suffering from paralysis in his lower body. Senior political source feared that Sharon might not recover from hemorrhage. Sharon's aides said they are waiting for a miracle.
Sharon was rushed to Hadassah Hospital shortly before 11 P.M. Wednesday night after feeling chest pains, less than three weeks after suffering a mild stroke and the day before he was to undergo a heart procedure. He arrived by ambulance from his Sycamore Ranch in southern Israel, and was immediately taken into the emergency room.
Both his sons, Gilad and Omri, were with Sharon when he was not feeling well, and they accompanied him to the hospital.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to undergo a heart procedure Thursday morning. He will undergo a general anesthetic, and the entire process -- from the time he is put under the anesthetic for the procedure to the time when he is expected to come out of it -- is expected to take three hours.
During this period of time Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will take over as acting prime minister.
Sharon was expected to leave the hospital Friday morning for his Negev ranch, and return to his office either Sunday or Monday.
On Dec. 18, 78-year-old Sharon was taken to Hadassah Hospital from his office after suffering a mild stroke. Doctors said he would not suffer long-term effects from the stroke, but they discovered a birth defect in his heart that apparently contributed to the stroke.
Since the stroke, Sharon has been receiving blood thinners to try to prevent a recurrence of the clotting that caused the stroke.