Netanyahu, against doctors’ orders, appeared in the Israeli parliament after the operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in the chamber of the Israeli parliament on Tuesday for a key vote on the budget, despite the objections of a doctor after prostate surgery on Sunday night, reports the Israeli news agency Tazpit Press Service (TPS).
Netanyahu (75) was accompanied to the Plenum of the Knesset by his personal physician, dr. Tzvi Berkowitz, and appeared in good spirits as he took his seat for a brief appearance. The Israeli leader went under the knife on Sunday to have his prostate removed after suffering a urinary tract infection, which reportedly “stemmed from a benign prostate enlargement,” according to Netanyahu’s office.
Two parties in Israel’s ruling coalition are threatening to vote against the “Captured Profits Law” if their demands are not met.
Despite doctors’ objections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at a critical vote in his country’s parliament. Netanyahu is recovering from surgery. (Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL)
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU COMPLETED PROSTATE SURGERY AFTER DIAGNOSIS OF UTI
The bill would allow the government to tax so-called “captured profits,” earnings that corporations and multinationals retain to reinvest in business growth, infrastructure and research. Until now, captive profits were tax-free to encourage investment.
Failure to pass the bill could jeopardize the passage of the national budget, which must be passed by March 31 or the government will automatically fall, triggering a national election.
The United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, which controls seven Knesset seats, said it would vote against the law as a warning against the government’s failure to advance legislation exempting Haredim, or Orthodox Jewish citizens, from military service.
The issue of the Haredim exemption has sparked heated debate in recent months. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began making plans to recruit yeshiva students after Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled in June that exemptions for the Haredi community were illegal, according to TPS.
UTJ leader Minister Rabbi Yitzhak Goldknopf insists the party will continue to oppose no progress on the draft exemption law.
The Otzma Yehudit party, which also has seven seats, also disagrees.
Its leader, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is demanding budget increases for the police, prison service and firefighting agencies and has vowed to vote against the bill until his demands are resolved, according to TPS.
Netanyahu’s government consists of seven parties with 68 out of 120 seats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to the Knesset to vote. (Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL)
On Sunday, Netanyahu’s office announced that the operation “completed successfully and without complications.”
The Israeli leader has undergone several medical procedures in the past two years. Netanyahu is in March underwent hernia surgery under full anesthesia, with Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin temporarily taking over his role during the process.
Months before the October 7 attack, Netanyahu suffered dehydration and was admitted to hospital in July 2023. The Israeli leader said he became dehydrated after visiting the Sea of Galilee without water or sun protection during a heat wave.
A week after he was admitted for dehydration, Netanyahu’s doctors implanted a pacemaker for regulation his heartbeat and rhythm.
Netanyahu’s latest surgery came as a 75-year-old politician continues the testimony in the corruption case against him in Israel. He testified earlier in December and is expected to continue testifying in the new year.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Israeli Knesset just one day after a major operation. (Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Netanyahu is also currently leading the IDF on multiple fronts The Middle Eastcontinuing to target Iranian terrorists and their proxies.
The IDF has recently launched multiple attacks against Houthi rebels, hitting Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport and Houthi infrastructure at the ports of Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Kanatib.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces also conducted multiple precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Sana’a and coastal locations inside Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Dec. 30 and 31, Fox News has learned.
The strikes are part of CENTCOM’s effort to degrade Iranian-backed Houthi efforts to threaten regional partners and military and merchant shipping in the region.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
