Netanyahu has prostate removed as he faces crises on multiple fronts

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his prostate removed on Sunday, his office said, a procedure that comes as he deals with several crises at once, including the ongoing war in Gaza and his own trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, 75, is part of a cohort of older world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, 82, and President-elect Donald Trump, 78, whose health and fitness are under scrutiny. extensive surveillance, both at home and abroad, due to their advanced age and physical condition. the effect this might have on their leadership.

Netanyahu, who has suffered a series of health problems in recent years, has made great efforts to bolster the public image of himself as a healthy and energetic leader. At his trial this month, he bragged about working 18 hours a day, even if those long hours were accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could also take a toll on his well-being.

The procedure has already had consequences: 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 “several days,” requesting that his three days testimony this week be canceled. The court agreed.

Netanyahu’s office said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close Netanyahu ally, would serve as interim prime minister during the proceedings.

With so much at stake in this turbulent region, Netanyahu’s wartime health is a concern for both Israelis and the rest of the world.

Prostate problems are common in older men and recovery can be rapid

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed on Wednesday with a urinary tract infection resulting from benign prostate enlargement. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, but a procedure on Sunday will remove the prostate.

Complications from an enlarged prostate are common among men aged 70 to 80, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the oncology and urology department at Rabin Medical Center in Israel, told Israel Army Radio. . Golan spoke in general terms about the proceedings and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment.

He said an enlarged prostate can prevent the bladder from emptying properly, leading to a buildup of urine that can then lead to infection or other complications. After drug treatment, doctors may recommend a prostate removal procedure to prevent future blockages, Golan explained.

In Netanyahu’s case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors would likely perform endoscopic surgery, which involves inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical incisions into the prostate. abdomen to reach the prostate.

The procedure takes about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. Golan also said that aside from using the catheter for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to normal activity without any significant limitations.

Netanyahu has previously had health problems, including heart disease.

Netanyahu insists that he is in excellent health and that his office has worked to build a public image that supports that. It broadcasts footage of him roaming war zones in full protective gear, flanked by gruff military officers, or meeting defense officials on windswept hills, dressed in dark colors and youthful down jackets.

But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem he had apparently known about for a long time but had hidden from the public.

A week after fainting, Netanyahu was urgently fitted with a pacemaker to monitor his heart rate. Only then did staff at Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu had suffered for years from a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.

The revelation came at a time when Netanyahu was facing massive anti-government protests. News of a chronic heart problem has stoked more anger and distrust at a time of extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to hospital for what doctors said was likely dehydration, where he spent the night, delaying his weekly Cabinet meeting.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under complete anesthesia and unconscious. Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation.

The operation comes at a turbulent time in the region

As leader of Israel, Netanyahu is at the center of major world events shaking up the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being unable to function for even a few hours can be risky in the current regional whirlwind.

Netanyahu will be hospitalized as international mediators push Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, as violence rages there and fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are intensifying.

The health issue also sheds new light on Netanyahu’s age. Prostate problems are common and, in many cases, easy to treat. But they are important, especially among older men.

This procedure damages Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would more than ever want to project his strength, both to an Israeli public facing constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies seeking to expose Israel’s weaknesses.