Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to undergo surgery for a hernia, according to his office.
The hernia was detected during a routine checkup, and the prime minister will be put under full anaesthesia for the procedure. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who is a close confidant and also serves as deputy prime minister, will step in as acting prime minister while Netanyahu is in surgery.
Despite maintaining a busy schedule during Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas, Netanyahu’s doctors have confirmed that he is in good health.
It was revealed last year that he had been concealing a long-standing heart issue, which required the implantation of a pacemaker.
The PM’s office said. “After consulting with his doctors, it was decided that the prime minister will undergo hernia surgery tonight, at the end of the workday,” the office said, adding that the operation will be performed under full anaesthesia.
Netanyahu, born in Tel Aviv to secular Jewish parents, had a diverse upbringing in Jerusalem and Philadelphia. He later returned to Israel in 1967 to join the Israel Defense Forces, where he excelled as a team leader in the Sayeret Matkal special forces.
After completing several successful missions, he achieved the rank of captain before his honorable discharge. Following his graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Netanyahu ventured into the field of economics, working as an economic consultant for the Boston Consulting Group.
In 1978, he decided to move back to Israel and establish the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute. From 1984 to 1988, Netanyahu served as the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, gaining valuable experience on the international stage.
Netanyahu’s political career took off when he was elected as the chairman of Likud in 1993, subsequently assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition.
In a historic turn of events, he became the first Israeli prime minister to be directly elected by popular vote in the 1996 election, defeating Shimon Peres. At the time, he also became the youngest-ever prime minister of Israel.
However, Netanyahu and Likud faced a significant defeat in the 1999 election at the hands of Ehud Barak’s One Israel alliance. Following this setback, Netanyahu chose to retire from politics and pursue opportunities in the private sector.
Nevertheless, his passion for public service eventually led him back to the political arena. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance under Ariel Sharon, during which he implemented impactful economic reforms that contributed to substantial growth in the Israeli economy.
However, disagreements surrounding the Gaza disengagement plan ultimately led to his resignation from the position.
