Business as usual for President Rivlin following pacemaker installation

The procedure was carried out by Dr. Aharon Medina, head of Shaare Zedek’s electrocardiography department.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Updated: JANUARY 22, 2017 03:29
Reuven Rivlin (photo credit: REUTERS)
Reuven Rivlin
(photo credit: REUTERS)
It’s business as usual this week for President Reuven Rivlin, who was fitted with a pacemaker on Thursday evening at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Rivlin returned to the President’s Residence on Friday morning and said he felt fine.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Shaare Zedek medical team for taking good care of him and to the many members of the public who were concerned about his health after learning that the president’s physician had detected an abnormal heart rhythm, necessitating the pacemaker to facilitate more intensive monitoring.
The procedure was carried out by Dr. Aharon Medina, head of Shaare Zedek’s electrocardiography department.
Rivlin, 77, opted to have the procedure toward the end of the week so as not to interfere with his work schedule, and to enable him to rest on Friday and Saturday.
He is due to travel to Tel Aviv on Monday to address the Institute for National Security Studies’ annual international conference at the Eretz Israel Museum, and on Wednesday he will host ambassadors of Asian countries serving in Israel.
In recent years, there has been increased cooperation and trade between Israel and countries in Asia and the Pacific.
On Thursday, Rivlin will meet with graduates of a special program for senior civil servants.
Also on Thursday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot underwent the removal of a cancerous tumor. Rivlin was more concerned about Eisenkot than himself, and the first question he asked following his own procedure was, “How’s Gadi?” On Saturday night, Rivlin sent a congratulatory message to newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump.
“Mr. President, as a longstanding friend of the State of Israel, you now stand as leader of the free world, and of Israel’s most important and closest ally,” he wrote. “The alliance between our states and our nations is not solely based on friendship. It is rooted in our shared values and longstanding commitment to freedom, liberty, and democracy – the foundation stones of our societies.
“As you take this esteemed office, I wish to express my gratitude for the support and friendship of the American people, along with my hope that our special relationship and cooperation will continue to flourish and grow stronger,” Rivlin concluded.