Israeli President Netanyahu has successfully undergone surgery to remove his prostate, the hospital says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery to remove his prostate on Sunday, hospital officials said, a procedure that comes as he deals with a number of crises, including the war in Gaza and a trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, who has had a series of health problems in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster his public image as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he bragged about working 18-hour days while smoking a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such grueling work over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu, 75, is among older world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, 82, President-elect Donald Trump, 78, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 79, and Pope Francis, 88, who have come under scrutiny for his age and health problems.

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

dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure went well and there was “no fear” of cancer or malignancy. We hope for the best, he said.

In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office said he was on “full alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit that is fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in the hospital for several days for observation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, was acting prime minister during the operation.

With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s wartime health worries both Israelis and the world.

Turbulent weather in the region

As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are changing the Middle East. With the breakneck pace of the last 14 months, being disabled for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be in hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a truce in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies.

Prostate problems are common and in many cases easily treatable. Still, the move tarnishes Netanyahu’s image of strength at a time when he would like to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience watching for constant threats and to Israel’s enemies who want to expose his weaknesses.

Previous health problems, including heart disease

Netanyahu claims to be in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear surrounded by military officers or meeting with military officials on windy hilltops in youthful dark tones and puffer jackets.

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

A week after fainting, Netanyahu was implanted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. It was only then that the staff at Sheba Medical Center discovered that Netanyahu had for years had a condition that can cause an irregular heartbeat.

The revelation came as Netanyahu faced mass anti-government protests. The news of the chronic heart problem sparked 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, which delayed his weekly cabinet meeting.

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

Recovery can be quick

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed Wednesday with a urinary tract infection stemming from a benign prostate enlargement. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, but the doctors said that in any case surgery was required.

Complications due to prostate enlargement are common in men in their 70s and 80s, said Dr. Shay Golan, chief of oncology and urology at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, told Israel Military Radio. Golan spoke in general terms and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment.

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

In Netanyahu’s case, since the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors likely performed endoscopic surgery, performed by inserting small instruments into the body cavity, rather than making surgical incisions in the abdomen to access the prostate.

The operation takes about an hour, said Golan, and the recovery is quick. He said that aside from using a catheter one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to normal activities without significant restrictions.