Netanyahu survives heart surgery - still wants to participate in coordination

Netanyahu survives heart surgery - still wants to participate in coordination

Title: Israel: Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to enforce judicial reform despite cardiac operation

Date: 23.07.2023

Israel is facing decisive days. Despite massive protests, the government wants to bring a core element of its controversial judicial reform through the parliament tomorrow. But shortly before the planned vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was surprisingly operated on. Nevertheless, he plans to be part of the vote.

The intervention was carried out in the Scheba Hospital near Tel Aviv, where a pacemaker was used to the Prime Minister. The responsible doctor announced in a video message that everything went well and Netanyahu already felt comfortable in the morning. He would continue to remain under medical supervision in the cardiological department of the hospital.

The operation came as a surprise after hundreds of thousands of people across Israel protested against the government's plans. In a video message before the operation, Netanyahu explained that he was doing well, but he wanted to listen to his doctors.

Netanyahu had already been hospitalized last weekend after being in the sun for too long without water and headgear. A heart monitor device was implanted. Data from the surveillance device were then evaluated on Sunday that required an urgent operation.

Parliament started the consultations about the controversial judicial reform in the morning. However, the final vote is expected at the earliest on Monday afternoon. Netanyahu is said to leave the hospital in the afternoon and take part in the vote in the Knesset. A cabinet session planned for today was postponed "for an indefinite period". Two planned trips abroad to Cyprus and Turkey were also postponed.