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, who has had 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, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu, 75, is among the oldest world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, 82, President-elect Donald Trump, 78, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, and Pope Francis, 88 years old, who have come under scrutiny due to their age and age. health problems.

Netanyahu’s latest condition is common among older men, but the procedure had consequences. The judges overseeing his trial on Sunday accepted his lawyer’s request to cancel the three days of testimony scheduled for this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had said Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “several days.”

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

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

A turbulent period 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 last 14 months, being unable to function for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be hospitalized at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen is intensifying.

Prostate problems are common and, in many cases, easy to treat. Yet the procedure undermines 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 its weaknesses.

Previous health problems, including heart disease

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office broadcasts images of him roaming war zones in full protective gear, flanked by 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 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 as Netanyahu faced massive anti-government protests. News of a chronic heart problem has stoked further anger and mistrust amid extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to hospital for what doctors said was likely dehydration. He stayed overnight, delaying the 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.

Recovery can be quick

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 Sunday’s procedure will remove his 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 and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment.

He said an enlarged prostate can block proper emptying of the bladder, leading to a buildup of urine that can 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, performed by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical incisions in the abdomen to reach the prostate.

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