Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will undergo prostate removal on Sunday, his office said, a procedure that comes as he manages multiple crises at once, including the ongoing war in Gaza and his own trial for alleged corruption. .
Netanyahu, 75, is among a group of older world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, 82, and President-elect Donald Trump, 78, whose health and fitness are under deep scrutiny both in at home and abroad due to his advanced age and the effect that could have on his leadership.
Netanyahu, who has had a series of health problems in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy and energetic leader. During his trial this month he boasted of working 18-hour days, even if those long hours are accompanied by a cigarette. But as Israel's longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload for a total of 17 years in power could also take a toll on his well-being.
The procedure has already had consequences: Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, said in a letter to the court that the Israeli prime minister would be completely sedated for the procedure and would be hospitalized for “several days,” asking that his three days of testimony be week will be cancelled. The court agreed.
Netanyahu's office said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close Netanyahu ally, would act as acting prime minister during the proceedings.
With so much at stake in the turbulent region, Netanyahu's wartime health is a concern for both Israelis and the world at large.
Prostate problems are common in older men and recovery can be quick.
According to Netanyahu's office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed on Wednesday with a urinary tract infection stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, but on Sunday he will undergo a procedure to remove his prostate.
Complications from an enlarged prostate are common in men between the ages of 70 and 80, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the urology oncology service at Israel's Rabin Medical Center, told Israeli Army Radio. Golan spoke in general terms about the procedure and was not involved in Netanyahu's care or treatment.
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He said an enlarged prostate can block proper emptying of the bladder, causing a buildup of urine that can then lead to infection or other complications. After medicinal treatment, doctors may recommend a procedure to remove the prostate and prevent future blockages, Golan said.
In Netanyahu's case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors will likely perform endoscopic surgery, which is performed by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical cuts in the abdomen to reach the prostate.
The procedure takes about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. Golan also said that, other than using the catheter for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to their normal activities without significant limitations.
Netanyahu has had some health problems before, including heart disease.
Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health and his office has worked to create a public image to support him. He posts images of him roaming war zones in full protective gear, flanked by gruff military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops, wearing youthful dark glasses and puffer jackets.
But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu's doctors revealed that he was suffering from 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 urgently fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause an irregular heartbeat.
That revelation came at a time when Netanyahu was facing massive anti-government protests. News of a chronic heart problem further fueled anger and mistrust at a time of extreme political polarization in Israel.
Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said was likely dehydration, where he spent the night, causing his weekly cabinet meeting to be delayed.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious. His close confidant, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, acted as acting prime minister during the operation.
The surgery comes at a turbulent time 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 past 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky in the current regional maelstrom.
Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pressing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza as violence continues and fighting intensifies between Israel and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The health issue also sheds new light on Netanyahu's age. Prostate problems are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. But they are prominent especially among older men.
The procedure dents Netanyahu's image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience facing constant threats and to Israel's enemies seeking to expose Israel's weaknesses.
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