Peres “had a peaceful night, and his condition is serious, but stable”, said Professor Yitzchak Kreis, chairman of Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv.
Advertisement
Joint List MK Basel Ghattas could hardly contain his apparent glee at former president and prime minister Shimon Peres’ maladies, posting a Facebook status describing Peres as a bloodthirsty criminal Wednesday as Peres was in an induced coma following a stroke, and sparking outrage across the political spectrum. But he said Peres’ neurological signs were improving.
The dosage of Peres’ sedation has been reduced, and he has “responded very well”, Dr. Rafi Valden, Peres’ son-in-law and personal physician, told reporters at the same news conference.
A veteran politician, Mr Peres has held nearly every major political office since Israel was founded in 1948, and was the architect of Israel’s secret nuclear programme.
A former hawk turned dove, the highlight of his career came in 1994, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Yitzhak Rabin and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for his role in negotiating the Oslo accords with the Palestinians.
Fox News elaborated about Peres’ past: “Peres is 93 years old and was President of Israel until two years ago”.
Peres is known to keep a healthy lifestyle and has long prided himself in his longevity and stamina. His office said Peres received a pacemaker last week.
Despite his age, Mr Peres has maintained an active public schedule, mostly through his non-governmental Peres Centre for Peace, which promotes closer ties between Israel and the Palestinians.
“In his people’s eyes he ceased to be a politician. He became an historic figure, larger than politics, larger than everyday affairs, a figure in a league of his own”, wrote Nahum Barnea, a columnist for the Israeli daily, Yediot Ahronot. “Shimon, we love you and the entire nation wishes you get well”, he said.
Speaking Wednesday afternoon at the Sheba Hospital, Health Minister Rabbi Yaakov Litzman said that things might be looking up for Peres.
As a defense official in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Peres was also a founder of Israel’s nuclear reactor in Dimona.
Advertisement
Peres’ son, Chemi, said the situation “wasn’t simple”, but the family was praying for his father and remained optimistic. But he warned that it was far too soon to eulogize his tenacious father.
