Netanyahu is having his prostate removed as he faces crises on multiple fronts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his prostate removed on Sunday, his office said. This intervention comes as he deals with multiple crises simultaneously, including the ongoing war in Gaza and his own trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, 75, is among a cohort of older world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, and President-elect Donald Trump, 78, whose health and physical fitness are under intense scrutiny both at home and abroad because of their advanced age impact that could have on their leadership.

Netanyahu, who has suffered from a series of health problems in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster the public image of himself as a fully healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he bragged about working 18-hour days, even if those long hours were accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a strenuous workload during his 17 years in power could also affect 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 fully sedated for the procedure and remain in the hospital for “a few days,” and called for his three-day deposition to be canceled this week. The court agreed.

A sitting prime minister will represent Netanyahu as he goes through the process, according to an official familiar with the arrangements. However, it was not immediately clear who would step in. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the details of the proceedings with the media.

With so much at stake in the turbulent region, Netanyahu’s wartime health is a concern for both Israelis and the world.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection on Wednesday caused by a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, but a procedure on Sunday will see his prostate removed.

Complications from prostate enlargement are common in men in their 70s and 80s, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the oncology urology service at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, told Israeli Army Radio. Golan spoke generally about the procedure and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment.

He said an enlarged prostate can block the bladder from emptying properly, which can lead to a buildup of urine, which can then lead to infection or other complications. After drug treatment, doctors may recommend removal of the prostate to prevent future blockages, Golan said.

Because the prostate in Netanyahu’s case is not cancerous, Golan said, doctors would likely perform endoscopic surgery, which involves inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical incisions in the abdomen to reach the prostate.

The procedure takes about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. Golan also said that aside from catheter use for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to their normal activity without significant restrictions.

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health and his office has worked to create a public image that supports that. Footage is released of him traveling through war zones in full riot gear, flanked by rugged military officers, or meeting defense officials on windswept hills in youthful dark sunglasses and puffer jackets.

But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he was suffering from heart disease, a problem he apparently knew about for a long time but kept hidden from the public.

A week after fainting, Netanyahu was urgently fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did Sheba Medical Center staff reveal that Netanyahu had been suffering for years from an illness that can cause irregular heartbeats.

This revelation came at a time when Netanyahu was grappling with massive anti-government protests. News of a chronic heart problem fueled further anger and mistrust at a time of extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was hospitalized for what doctors said was likely dehydration, where he remained overnight, causing his weekly Cabinet meeting to be postponed.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent a hernia operation that left him unconscious under general anesthesia. His close confidant, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, served as acting prime minister during the operation.

As Israeli leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events transforming the Middle East. Given the dizzying pace of the last 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours in the current regional maelstrom can be risky.

Netanyahu will lie in hospital as international mediators urge Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza as violence rages there and fighting escalates between Israel and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The health problem also sheds new light on Netanyahu’s age. Prostate problems are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. But they are particularly prominent among older men.

The trial tarnishes Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he wants to show strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience facing constant threats and to Israel’s enemies who want to expose Israel’s weaknesses.