Israel
Netanyahu for pacemaker surgery in hospital
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs surgery. photo
© Abir Sultan/EPA POOL via AP/dpa
The Israeli Prime Minister was hospitalized last week. Actually, he wanted to be part of the vote on the judicial reform, but now an immediate operation is necessary.
Shortly before a decisive vote in parliament on the planned restructuring of the judiciary, Israel’s head of government Benjamin Netanyahu got a pacemaker. “I’m doing great, but I’m listening to my doctors,” Netanyahu said in a video message on Sunday night. The operation will take place at the Sheba Hospital near Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu was unexpectedly hospitalized last weekend. At the time, it was said that he had been in the sun for too long without water and a hat. A heart monitor that was subsequently attached had now beeped; an immediate operation is needed, said Netanyahu. According to him, he will be released from hospital on Sunday afternoon and will be present for a vote in parliament on a core element of his government’s controversial judicial reform.
The project had again driven several hundred thousand people onto the streets on Saturday evening. The right-wing religious government intends to present the draft law to the parliament (Knesset) in Jerusalem this Sunday. The final vote is expected on Monday at the earliest. For months, the project has divided large sections of Israeli society.