Netanyahu recovers from emergency heart surgery as judicial overhaul moves forward
[ad_1]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker on Sunday, just hours before lawmakers began debate on a controversial judicial overhaul bill that has brought tens of thousands of protesters to the streets.
Issued on:
3 min
Protests have intensified in the days leading up to the debate, which began Sunday ahead of a parliamentary vote on Monday which could see a key part of the proposals passed into law.
Despite his operation, Netanyahu vowed to be there for the vote.
The judicial revamp proposed by his hard-right government has split the nation and, since its unveiling in January, sparked one of the biggest protest movements in Israel’s history.
Opponents see the proposed revamp as a threat to Israel’s democracy.
“We want to continue to live in a Jewish and a democratic state,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said at the start of debate.
“We must stop this legislation,” he said.
Sheba Medical Center performed the surgery on Netanyahu, a statement from his office said, while Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin stood in for him.
Days earlier Netanyahu, 73, had been discharged from the same facility after a night of hospitalisation following complaints of dizziness.
“A week ago I had a monitoring device implanted and this device beeped this evening and announced that I needed to get a pacemaker. I have to do this tonight, I feel great and I listen to my doctors,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
Hours of debate
The hospital confirmed after the surgery that Netanyahu’s condition was good.
“He will remain under medical supervision in the cardiology department,” it said in a statement.
“The doctors tell me that I will be free and I will be released from the hospital tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) and will be able to go to the Knesset to vote,” Netanyahu said prior to the surgery.
Debate is expected to last…
[ad_2]
Source : france24
