Netanyahu receives pacemaker ahead of judicial reform vote

Justice Minister Yariv Levin served as acting prime minister while Netanyahu was in surgery.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on July 2, 2023 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on July 2, 2023
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent surgery at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer to receive a pacemaker on Saturday night, the Prime Minister's Office stated.

"I feel great, but I'm listening to my doctors," said Netanyahu in a video posted to social media ahead of the surgery. "The doctors said I'll be released from the hospital tomorrow by the afternoon and I'll be able to arrive at the Knesset for the vote."

The prime minister added that he hoped an agreement would be reached on the reasonableness standard bill set to be voted on Monday afternoon.

Medical professionals from Sheba Medical Center stated on Sunday morning that the surgery was a success and that the prime minister was awake and doing well. 

Also on Sunday morning, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid tweeted out: "I am sending wishes of good health to the prime minister this morning. These are difficult times for the State of Israel, but it's not too late to bring healing to Israeli society as well."

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen during a press conference on Operation Shield and Arrow on May 10, 2023 (credit: CHAIM TZACH/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen during a press conference on Operation Shield and Arrow on May 10, 2023 (credit: CHAIM TZACH/GPO)

Netanyahu published a video on Sunday afternoon thanking supporters for wishing him well and the medical staff for treating him, stressing that he's "feeling great."

"We're continuing efforts to complete the legislation, as well as efforts to complete it with an agreement, but in any case I want you to know tomorrow morning I will join my fellows in the Knesset," said the prime minister.

Dehydration in Caesarea

Earlier this month, Netanyahu was admitted to Sheba Medical Center after losing consciousness and hitting his head at his home in Caesarea. After a series of tests, the prime minister was released from the hospital with a holter monitor, a type of portable electrocardiogram for cardiac monitoring.

On Saturday night, the holter monitor detected an issue with his heartbeat, leading to Netanyahu's doctors advising him to have immediate surgery to get a pacemaker, the prime minister said in the video.

Levin to serve as acting prime minister

Justice Minister Yariv Levin served as acting prime minister while Netanyahu was in surgery.

The weekly cabinet meeting which usually takes place on Sunday will be rescheduled for a later date due to the surgery.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.