Ehud Olmert
Photo: Reuters
Olmert prostate surgery successful
Prostate tumor successfully removed from body of former PM, who asked for Rabbi Ovadia's blessing prior to operation
The surgery of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to remove a prostate tumor was successfully completed in New York City's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Clinic on Thursday.
Olmert is expected to remain hospitalized in the upcoming days and, upon his release, will remain in New York for several weeks for follow-up treatment.
Prior to the operation Olmert phoned Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and asked for his blessing. Shas' spiritual leader wished the former PM "good health" and said he was convinced the operation would succeed due to Olmert's "support for the Torah world during his tenure as prime minister."
Olmert left for New York a few days ago, a year-and-a-half after the first signs of prostate cancer were detected in his body. Some of his associates, including former bureau chief Shula Zaken, reportedly prayed for Olmert Thursday at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City.
Olmert had made his prostate cancer condition public in October 2007. A year later he announced his resignation over multiple corruption allegations.
