Israel has decisive days ahead: despite massive protests, the government wants to get a core element of its judicial reform through parliament tomorrow. Prime Minister Netanyahu underwent surprising heart surgery during the night, but wants to be present at the vote.
A pacemaker was implanted in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly before a crucial parliamentary vote on the controversial judicial reform. “Everything went well, the Prime Minister feels very well this morning,” said the doctor in charge at the Sheba Hospital near Tel Aviv in a video message this morning. The prime minister woke up and was fine. After the procedure, he would “remain under medical supervision in the cardiology department,” it said.
“I listen to my doctors”
The operation was announced at short notice and unexpectedly at night after hundreds of thousands protested across Israel against the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary. The 73-year-old surprisingly announced in a video message that he would be operated on. “I’m doing great, but I’m listening to my doctors,” he had said.
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. As a result, a series of examinations were undertaken and a heart monitor device was implanted. On Sunday, the hospital then received data from the monitoring device that would have made an “urgent operation” necessary, said one of the responsible doctors.
Media reports: Galant wants to postpone voting
In the morning, parliament began deliberations on an important element of the government’s plans, which have been causing mass protests for months. The final vote in the Knesset is not expected until Monday afternoon at the earliest. According to his office, Netanyahu will be released from the hospital in the afternoon and will be present at the vote in the Knesset. However, a cabinet meeting scheduled for today has been postponed “indefinitely”.
According to media reports, Defense Minister Joav Galant is trying to postpone the vote scheduled for Monday. He said he was seeking a “consensus” after some 10,000 reservists threatened to be refused service if the government didn’t stop their plans. Negotiations on a compromise have so far been unsuccessful.