President, PM lead greetings and well wishes for Shimon Peres
Rivlin says he is watching hospital reports ‘with concern,’ while Netanyahu tweets: ‘We love you and the whole country wishes you better’
President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and political leaders from across the spectrum united Tuesday in wishing a speedy recovery to former president Shimon Peres, who was hospitalized in serious condition following a massive stroke.
Rivlin said he was following hospital reports “with concern” and was “praying together with the whole nation” for the Noble Peace laureate’s recovery.
Netanyahu tweeted: “Shimon, we love you and the whole country is wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Peres’ office said earlier he was taken to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, outside Tel Aviv, after feeling unwell. It initially said he was conscious and in stable condition, but later confirmed reports that he was sedated and on a respirator, saying his doctors had decided on this course of action as it made diagnosis and treatment more straightforward.
“We’re all praying for the health of former president Shimon Peres, and we hope that he will again prove that he knows how to come back from difficult situations,” Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said in a statement.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog expressed hopes that the 93-year-old former president would make a full recovery, writing on Twitter that he hoped the elder statesman would “come back and make your wise, clear and realistic voice heard.” Like Herzog, Peres once led Israel’s Labour Party.
Earlier this month, Peres underwent surgery to receive an artificial pacemaker, after he was diagnosed with an abnormal heart rhythm in July following a series of minor health scares.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, head of the right-wing Jewish Home party, said he was praying for Peres’ good health.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who heads the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, asked for prayers to be recited on behalf of “Shimon, ben Sara” (Shimon, son of Sara), the name Peres would be known by in a synagogue.
