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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his prostate removed on Sunday, his office said, a procedure that comes as he manages multiple crises at once, including the ongoing war in Gaza and his own trial for alleged corruption.
Netanyahu, 75, is among a cohort of aging world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, 82, and President-elect Donald Trump, 78, whose health and physical fitness are under intense scrutiny both at home and abroad because of their advanced age and the effect that could have on their leadership.
Netanyahu, who has had a series of health problems in recent years, has done much to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he bragged about working 18-hour days, even if those long hours are accompanied by a cigar. But if of Israel longest-serving leader, such a heavy workload over a total of 17 years in power may also take a toll on his well-being.
The procedure has already had a fallout: Netanyahu’s lawyer Amit Hadad said in a letter to the court that the Israeli prime minister would be fully sedated for the procedure and would be hospitalized “for a number of days”, and asked that his three days of testimony this week will be canceled. The court agreed.
Netanyahu’s office said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close Netanyahu ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the proceedings.
With so much at stake in the turbulent region, Netanyahu’s wartime health is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world.
Prostate problems are common for older men, and recovery can be quick.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed Wednesday with a urinary tract infection stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, but a procedure on Sunday will remove his prostate.
Complications of prostate enlargement are common in men in their 70s and 80s, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the oncology urology service at the Israeli Rabin Medical Center, against Israeli Army Radio. Golan spoke in general terms about the procedure and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment.
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He said an enlarged prostate can block the proper emptying of the bladder, leading to a build-up of urine that can then lead to an infection or other complications. After medical treatment, doctors may recommend a procedure to remove the prostate to prevent future blockages, Golan said.
In Netanyahu’s case, since the prostate cancer is not cancerous, Golan said doctors will likely perform endoscopic surgery, which is performed by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, instead of surgical cuts in the abdomen to to reach the prostate.
The procedure takes about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. Golan also said that apart from catheter use for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to normal activity without significant restrictions.
Netanyahu has had some health problems before, including a heart attack
Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health and his office has worked to create a public image that supports that. It publishes images of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by burly military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets.
But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed he had suffered a heart attack, a problem he apparently knew about for a long time but hid from the public.
A week after an appeal, Netanyahu was urgently fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center announce that Netanyahu has been suffering for years from a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.
That revelation came at a time when Netanyahu was facing massive anti-government protests. The news of a chronic heart problem fueled further anger and mistrust at a time of extreme political polarization in Israel.
Last year, Netanyahu was taken to hospital for what doctors said was likely dehydration, where he spent the night, delaying his weekly cabinet meeting.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent a hernia operation, during which he was under general anesthesia and unconscious. His close confidante, Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, served as acting 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 that are changing the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, the risk of being incapacitated for even a few hours in the current regional maelstrom may be.
Netanyahu will be in hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire in Gaza, as violence there rages and fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies .
The health issue also shines a new light on Netanyahu’s age. Prostate problems are common and in many cases easy to treat. But they are prominent especially among older men.
The proceedings put a dent in Netanyahu’s image of strength at a time when he would project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli public navigating constant threats, as well as to Israel’s enemies who want to expose Israel’s weaknesses.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
