Peres' wife Sonia suffers heart failure

Paramedics gave Sonia, 81, initial medical attention at the couple's Tel Aviv home before transferring her to the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. She has been anesthetized and connected to a respirator in an intensive care unit at the hospital, medical sources said.

The hospital's deputy director-general and Peres' son-in-law, Prof Rafi Walden, said that Sonia was in a serious but stable condition and that her life was not in danger.

"We believe that her condition is reversible and that she will recover within a few days," he added. 

Shimon Peres accompanied his wife to the hospital and did not leave her bedside the whole night.

Prof Walden said that Peres left the hospital early in the morning after being assured that her condition was stable. "We asked him to go to sleep at home, as she is anyway anesthetized."

Sonia and Shimon Peres' son Chemi told Ynet on Friday afternoon, "We are very worried and hope to see mother back with us as soon as possible. The family hopes her condition will improve."

The son added that his father had spent the night at the hospital until Sonia's exact condition was made clear. "He is in touch with us the entire time and is worried about her."

Over the years, Sonia preferred to stay out of the spotlight and did not accompany her husbands to public events.

Raanan Ben-Zur, Attila Somfalvi, Meital Yasur-Beit Or and Yoav Kapshuk contribute to the report