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Israel Shimon Peres Condition

Peres was rushed to Tel Hashomer hospital late Tuesday day after suffering a massive stroke.

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He is reported to be in stable condition and conscious.

Peres has held almost every major office in the country, including prime minister twice and president, a mostly ceremonial post, from 2007 to 2014.

His personal doctor, Rafi Walden, told journalists that “I can say that he has shown clear improvement”.

Kreiss said Peres responds when medical personnel wake him up, and Kreiss has the impression that Peres’ neurological condition is a little better.

“As his family’s representative and a member of the staff at Sheba Medical Center, we are extremely grateful for the excellent treatment he is receiving, along with the tremendous waves of love that are being sent to us from around the country and around the world”, said Walden.

The head of the hospital said Wednesday that Peres, 93, was now in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.

He served as president from 2007 to 2014.

Peres is Israel’s most senior statesman, a former soldier who fought for Israel’s war of independence, initiated Israel’s nuclear program and later helped craft the Oslo Accord calling for a Palestinian state at peace with Israel, which has yet to happen.

His spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch said Tuesday was no exception, with Mr Peres waking early to read the daily newspapers before delivering an hour-long lecture and then uploading a video to his Facebook account in which he encouraged the public to buy locally made products. In the video, he appears tired but is otherwise alert and coherent.

He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Israel’s former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for a 1993 interim peace deal, although that pact never hardened into a lasting treaty.

Israel’s ninth president received a pacemaker last week, his office said.

Earlier this year he was twice hospitalised for heart problems but quickly released. “He became a historic figure, larger than politics, larger than everyday affairs, a figure in a league of his own”, wrote Yediot Ahronot columnist Nachum Barnea.

Concern has mounted over the condition of Mr Peres, widely respected as a statesman both in Israel and overseas, after his stroke on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who defeated Peres in 1996 to become prime minister, personally called the hospital to enquire on Peres’ condition and posted a Facebook message wishing him a speedy recovery.

Even Russian President Vladimir Putin called, according to Peres’ spokesperson (although The Times of Israel noted that Putin’s spokesperson did not confirm what was discussed). “The prime minister conveyed the prayers of the entire nation for a quick recovery”, his office said.

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“His devotion to the state of Israel is not doubted by anybody”, Ephraim Imbar, Director of the Begin-Sadat Center told The Media Line.

Peres suffers stroke, admitted to hospital