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The spiritual leader of Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party Shas, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has suffered a serious decline in health and is sedated and on a respirator in Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital.

As well as being a revered religious authority, the 93-year-old is the ultimate authority within Shas, which has played a major role in Israeli politics during the last two decades. The party has been plagued by infighting during the last year, following the return to prominence of former leader Aryeh Deri, and finds itself in opposition having been a mainstay of Israeli governments since the 1990s. Rabbi Yosef is considered the key unifying factor throughout the party.

Rabbi Yosef was hospitalized over the weekend, but his situation has worsened and he was yesterday fitted with a pacemaker and underwent dialysis. A Hadassah Hospital spokeswoman said yesterday that “his condition has been pronounced serious but stable.” Prof Naparstek, the hospital’s deputy director commented, “We hope for the best. His family is around his bed,” and that Rabbi Yosef’s condition is “life-threatening but not immediately.” Prayer services for Rabbi Yosef’s health are being held by his supporters across Israel.

Rabbi Yosef’s condition is being followed closely well beyond Shas supporters. Across Israel’s religious landscape he is considered a spiritual and rabbinic giant of his generation. Israel’s President Shimon Peres yesterday said that he was praying for Rabbi Yosef, describing him as “a guide to our people.”

Meanwhile, media attention in Israel is already focused on the battle to succeed Rabbi Yosef within Shas, and questioning the future unity of the party. Maariv yesterday claimed that there is extreme tension between Rabbi Yosef’s family and Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel. Amar had reportedly claimed that Rabbi Yosef appointed him his successor, a claim rejected by the family. Rabbi Yosef’s son recently succeeded Amar as Chief Rabbi and would also appear to be an heir apparent.