IDF chief released from hospital after cancer operation

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot was released from the hospital on Saturday, after doctors removed a cancerous growth from his prostate earlier this week, the army said.

Surgeons at Petah Tikva’s Beilinson Hospital completed Eisenkot’s surgery on Thursday, having discovered the cancerous tumor in his prostate gland late last year.

The prostatectomy appears to have been a success. The army chief was sent home to continue the recovery process before he returns to work, likely sometime early next month.

While Eisenkot, 56, remains incapacitated, his deputy, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, is serving as acting head of the military.

Eisenkot thanked the hospital, the medical staff and Prof. Jack Baniel, a noted urologist and deputy head of the hospital’s Davidoff Cancer Center, “for their dedicated care,” the army said in a statement.

The army initially refused to divulge the nature of Eisenkot’s condition, citing his right to privacy, but following the operation, the army revealed that he had a form of prostate cancer.

The tumor was discovered by his doctor two months ago, but had not affected his ability to serve, an IDF source said.

On Wednesday, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced he would extend Eisenkot’s tenure as head of the IDF for a fourth year, pending final approval from the government.

The position of IDF chief of staff is a three-year position, though it can be extended by one or, on rare occasions, two years.

The cabinet will vote on Eisenkot’s extended tenure on January 29, according to Liberman’s office.

Eisenkot became chief of staff in February 2015, taking over for retiring Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.