Benjamin Netanyahu has his prostate removed as he faces crises on multiple fronts – National
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu His prostate was removed on Sunday, a procedure he has handled in multiple crises, including his own trial over alleged corruption and the ongoing war in Gaza, his office said.
Netanyahu, 75, is among elderly world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, 82, and President-elect Donald Trump, 78, whose health and fitness are under intense scrutiny for their age both at home and abroad. can affect their leadership.
Netanyahu, who has had a number of health problems in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster his public image as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he boasted of working 18-hour days, even if those long hours were accompanied by cigars. But as of Israel the longest-serving leader, with just 17 years in power, such a grueling workload can also take a toll on his well-being.
The procedure has already ended: Netanyahu’s lawyer Amit Hadad said in a letter to the court that the Israeli prime minister will be completely sedated for the procedure and will remain in the hospital for “several days” and asked for a three-day statement about it. week is cancelled. The court agreed.
Netanyahu’s office said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close Netanyahu ally, would act as prime minister during the proceedings.
With so much at risk in the aggressive region, Netanyahu’s health during the war worries both Israelis and the world.
Prostate problems are common for older men and recovery can be quick.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed on Wednesday with a urinary tract infection caused by a benign growth of the prostate gland. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, but he will have his prostate removed on Sunday.
Dr. Shai Golan, head of the oncological urology service at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, told Israel Army Radio that complications from prostate gland growth often occur in 70-80-year-old men. Golan spoke in general terms about the procedure and did not interfere with Netanyahu’s care or treatment.
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An enlarged prostate can prevent the bladder from emptying properly, causing urinary retention, which can then lead to infection or other complications, he said. After medical treatment, doctors may recommend a prostate removal procedure to prevent future blockages, Golan said.
In Netanyahu’s case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said, doctors will perform endoscopic surgery, which involves inserting small instruments into the body cavity, rather than making any surgical incisions in the abdomen to reach the prostate.
Golan said the procedure takes about an hour and recovery is quick. Golan also said that within one to three days after the procedure, apart from catheter use, patients can return to normal activities without any significant restrictions.
Netanyahu has had some health problems in the past, including heart disease
Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health, and his office has worked to create a public image that supports this. He posts footage of him being toured war zones by dashing military officers in full protective gear, or meeting defense officials on windy hills in youthful dark shades and dark jackets.
But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors discovered he had a heart condition, a problem he apparently knew about for a long time but kept from the public.
A week after he fainted, Netanyahu was urgently fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did the staff at Sheba Medical Center discover that Netanyahu had been suffering from a condition that could have caused an irregular heartbeat for years.
The revelation comes as Netanyahu faces massive anti-government protests. The news of the chronic heart problem has fueled further anger and disbelief at a time of extreme political polarization in Israel.
Last year, Netanyahu was taken to hospital and stayed overnight for what doctors said was likely dehydration, causing the weekly Cabinet meeting to be postponed.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious. His close friend, Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, acted as Prime Minister during the operation.
The operation comes at a turbulent time in the region
As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events changing the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, even a few hours of downtime in the current regional maelstrom can be risky.
Netanyahu will be in the hospital as tensions between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalate and violence escalates, as international mediators push Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
The health problem also sheds new light on Netanyahu’s age. Prostate problems are common and in many cases easily treated. But they are especially popular among older men.
The procedure hits both an Israeli audience watching for constant threats and Israel’s enemies who want to expose Israel’s weaknesses at a time when Netanyahu wants to project an image of strength more than ever.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
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