Netanyahu to undergo prostate removal surgery on Sunday
Operation follows the discovery of infection in PM’s urinary tract; cabinet meeting to be held on Sunday as planned, but some days of his testimony at trial could be put off
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his prostate removed in a surgery on Sunday, his office said in a statement.
Last Wednesday, Netanyahu, 75, underwent an examination at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where doctors discovered an infection in his urinary tract resulting from a benign enlargement of the prostate, the PMO said.
The statement added that Sunday’s cabinet meeting would take place as planned.
However, some of Netanyahu’s upcoming scheduled days of testimony in his criminal trial could be delayed.
In March, the premier was put under full anesthesia to undergo surgery for a hernia. That same month, he missed several days of work after contracting the flu.
Last year, Netanyahu underwent surgery to have a pacemaker installed after he suffered a “transient heart block.” The surgery came a week after he was hospitalized for what he said at the time was dehydration.
The incident led to considerable speculation among many in Israel as to the health of the prime minister and to what degree details had been hidden from the public.
A medical report released in January said Netanyahu was in a “completely normal state of health,” that his pacemaker was working correctly and that there was no evidence of heart arrhythmia or any other problematic conditions.
Despite protocols requiring prime ministers to release an annual health report, Netanyahu did not release one between 2016 and late 2023. He could not be legally forced to share his health information as these protocols, developed by the PMO, were not enshrined in law.
