Last update - 00:00 29/10/2007
Background: Health problems of serving prime ministers
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
At many junctures of Israeli history, ailments of serving prime ministers may have markedly influenced the course of events. The following are some examples:
January, 2006 - In the course of an election campaign, and with Ariel Sharon suffers devastating stroke, is rushed to hospital, loses consciousness and lapses into coma, from which he has never emerged. His deputy, Ehud Olmert, assumes the post of acting prime minister.
May, 1977 - Shortly after his Likud party defeated the Labor Alignment after 29 years in power, Menachem Begin is hospitalized with a heart attack suffered during negotiations over forging a new ruling coalition.
May, 1978 - Begin, after suffering exhaustion, falls ill with fever, and remains bedridden at home for three weeks.
1980 - Begin suffers a heart ailment while taking part in a Knesset debate on dissolving the parliament. His deputy prime minister, Ygael Yadin, notices Begin sweating and untying his necktie. Begin is rushed to Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Karem, and later diagnosed with a heart attack, apparently brought on by prolonged severe stress. He remains conscious throughout.
1963-9 - Levi Eshkol requires repeated treatments for cancer. By the critical last two years of his term, his ability to influence events becomes marginal. He is largely passive in the face of a key debate between cabinet ministers Moshe dayan, who advocates keeping the recently captured territories, and Yigal Alon, who has formulated a plan to cede part of the territories in exchange for a permanent accord with the Palestinians.
February, 1969 - Eshkol suffers a heart attack, and, weeks later, a second, fatal attack.