Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized on Saturday due to suspected dehydration, according to his office. The country is currently experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures reaching the mid-30s Celsius (low 90s Fahrenheit) for several days. Netanyahu’s initial tests came back normal, and he is said to be in good condition. He was admitted to the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, after complaining of mild dizziness. The Prime Minister released a video statement, acknowledging his dehydration and advising people to drink more water during the heatwave.
Netanyahu, 73, has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics for nearly three decades. In June 2021, he lost office for the first time in 12 years after rival Naftali Bennett won a parliamentary vote to form a government. However, he made a dramatic return to power 18 months later, cobbling together a coalition. This is not the first time Netanyahu has faced health issues. In October 2022, he fell ill while visiting a synagogue during Yom Kippur and was admitted to the hospital overnight before being released.
The news of Netanyahu’s hospitalization has raised concerns about the country’s leadership. Israel currently does not have an acting prime minister, meaning that if Netanyahu is incapacitated, the cabinet would have to meet to elect an acting prime minister. Justice Minister Yariv Levin is the deputy prime minister, but under Israel’s Basic Laws, the role of acting prime minister is separate, and Levin would not automatically assume the position if Netanyahu is unable to fulfill his duties. However, there is currently no indication that Netanyahu is incapacitated.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid wished Netanyahu a complete recovery and good health in a tweet. A cabinet meeting that was scheduled for Sunday has been postponed to Monday, according to the Prime Minister’s office. As the heatwave continues in Israel, authorities are urging people to take precautions, stay out of the sun, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
How does the hospitalization of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to dehydration impact the country’s leadership?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 73, has been hospitalized due to suspected dehydration, his office confirmed on Saturday. The country is currently experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures reaching the mid-30s Celsius (low 90s Fahrenheit) for several days. Initial tests have come back normal, and Netanyahu is reportedly in good condition. He was admitted to the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, after experiencing mild dizziness. In a video statement, the Prime Minister acknowledged his dehydration and advised people to drink more water during the heatwave.
Netanyahu, a dominant figure in Israeli politics for nearly three decades, lost office for the first time in 12 years in June 2021. However, he made a dramatic return to power 18 months later. This is not the first time he has faced health issues, as he was hospitalized in October 2022 after falling ill during a synagogue visit.
Netanyahu’s hospitalization raises concerns about the country’s leadership, as Israel currently does not have an acting prime minister. If Netanyahu is unable to fulfill his duties, the cabinet would need to meet to elect an acting prime minister. Although Justice Minister Yariv Levin is the deputy prime minister, the role of acting prime minister is separate under Israel’s Basic Laws, and Levin would not automatically assume the position. However, there is currently no indication that Netanyahu is incapacitated.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid sent his wishes for Netanyahu’s recovery and good health in a tweet. A cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday has been postponed to Monday. As the heatwave persists in Israel, authorities are urging individuals to take precautions, such as avoiding sun exposure and staying hydrated.
I hope Prime Minister Netanyahu makes a swift recovery. Dehydration can be dangerous, especially during a heatwave. Take care, sir.