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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressing a surprise press conference on Monday. (Channel Two)
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Last update - 13:20 30/10/2007
PM to undergo prostate surgery after Annapolis
By Barak Ravid, Aluf Benn and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will undergo an operation for the removal of his prostate gland after the Annapolis peace summit. He announced the impending operation to the nation at a hastily convened news conference in Jerusalem yesterday, when he revealed that a cancerous growth was found on his prostate.

The prime minister stressed that it is not life threatening, and that he intends to continue working as usual until the operation, and as soon as he recovers following the surgery.

Olmert's bureau issued a statement yesterday that the operation will be carried out after the summit, because it is necessary to wait several weeks after the biopsy, which was conducted 10 days ago. Following the operation, Olmert will not be able to travel abroad for three to four weeks, "and we do not intend to delay the meeting at Annapolis for this," a source in his bureau said.
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In a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - who called to ask about his health yesterday - Olmert said that "I will continue working at full pace... and I will attend the international meeting in Annapolis before the operation."

Olmert also spoke on the telephone with the Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and told him that he intends to continue their meetings as planned.

"Initial signs of a cancerous growth have been identified," Olmert said. "It is a microscopic growth, which has not metastasized, and which can be removed in a short surgical procedure."

The prime minister underwent an annual physical examination about six months ago, which also included checks for cancer. Due to unusual blood test results, his doctors recommended that he undergo a biopsy, which he did on October 19, several hours after he returned from a his one-day visit to Moscow.

Following his visit to Paris and London, Olmert was told by his physicians last Wednesday that they had discovered a cancerous growth.

According to Shlomo Segev, one of the doctors, Olmert did not show any signs of anxiety when he was informed about the illness, and "was very quiet."

Olmert continued to function normally after he was informed of the cancer, and also met with Abbas, as scheduled. In parallel, he discussed with his advisers on ways to inform the public about the illness.

Following the cabinet meeting on Sunday, it was decided in Olmert's bureau to hold a news conference.

At the same time, the prime minister's physicians conducted further tests to ensure that their diagnosis was accurate.

Olmert briefed a number of senior figures in the political leadership on Sunday and yesterday about the illness, including President Shimon Peres, Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and several other ministers.

At the news conference, the prime minister said that "according to medical opinion, there will be no need for radiation or chemotherapy treatment."

He also noted that following the operation, "I will be fit to fulfill my duties fully, prior to the treatment and also several hours after it."

Olmert said that according to his doctors, "recovery will be full, and there is no growth that is life threatening or that could undermine my ability to function. I intend to carry on with my work and dedicate my all to running the affairs of state."

The prime minister said that he decided to hold the news conference even though he had no legal obligation to do so. "The citizens of Israel have the right to know, and I feel obliged to inform them on this matter," he said.

Olmert's doctors described the cancerous growth as being limited, which does not pose any threat in the short term.

"The surgery was delayed because it is not urgent," said Dr. Segev.

Another physician, Professor Kobi Ramon, added that "the spread of the growth is very slow. According to the statistics, the chances that he will need further treatment [after the operation] is close to zero."

The doctors said that the operation, which will last two hours, can be carried out under local or full anesthesia. If the latter is selected, then the prime minister will have to declare "temporary incapacity" and pass on his authority, temporarily, to Livni. Senior officials at the Prime Minister's Bureau said that in that case, the necessary arrangements will be made with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.

Olmert is likely to remain hospitalized for three days after the operation, which will probably be carried out at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, under Professor Ramon.


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      1.   I wish him well 12:21  |  Anton 29/10/07
      2.   Be well, Olmert. 12:27  |  Esther 29/10/07
      3.   Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. 12:38  |  sandra chitayat 29/10/07
      4.   A prayer for Ehud 12:42  |  Virginia 29/10/07
      5.   Sorry but Israel?s PM must be free of medical problems. 12:50  |  H.H.M 29/10/07
      6.   Prostate-cancer is a pretty "good-natured" cancer 12:57  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/07
      7.   ClickFOOL: Boorish Post #1 was Retracted 13:02  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 29/10/07
      8.   Let`s wish him a soon recovery 13:03  |  Edith 29/10/07
      9.   Refuah shlemah Ehud 13:05  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/10/07
      10.   Wouldn`t wish it on my enemy 13:09  |  Maral 29/10/07
      11.   Wishing good health for Olmert 13:24  |  SystemF 29/10/07
      12.   Swiss have you seen PM Olmert`s histopathology report? 13:25  |  PETER S.M. 29/10/07
      13.   As long as he keeps his head up 13:27  |  Jew 29/10/07
      14.   Sounds good. And the jogging pays off too... 13:35  |  J.M.Jordan 29/10/07
      15.   Wishing you well 13:35  |  A Palestinian 29/10/07
      16.   Good healing. 13:54  |  cfs 29/10/07
      17.   Olmet`s prostate cancer 13:55  |  Hilda 29/10/07
      18.   Olmert 13:58  |  Walid 29/10/07
      19.   He`ll make a full recovery 14:14  |  Clickfool 29/10/07
      20.   Sick Leaders 14:34  |  MIBarton MA. 29/10/07
      21.   # 13 PETER SM 14:39  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/07
      22.   OLMERT, REPENT,LET JEWS RETAKE ABANDONED LAND,AND YOU MAY RECOVER 15:03  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 29/10/07
      23.   Strange things happen to those who attempt to give away Israel 15:08  |  Nephtaly 29/10/07
      24.   For Ovadiah ben Avraham, on my boorish post # 7 15:21  |  Clickfool 29/10/07
      25.   Thanks, Clickfool 15:32  |  Jason, Ph.D. 29/10/07
      26.   Best wishes to The P.M 15:33  |  Bob 29/10/07
      27.   Most 60+ men suffer of the same, but live to be 120 ! 15:37  |  Aaron 29/10/07
      28.   PM says diagnosed with signs of prostrate cancer 15:45  |  janice 29/10/07
      29.   Be strong Ehud 15:49  |  Conroy 29/10/07
      30.   I wish him a refuah shaleyma 15:59  |  Nik Miller 29/10/07
      31.   Refuah Shlemah 16:22  |  Johnny Weintraub 29/10/07
      32.   I posted refua shelema 16:36  |  sh 29/10/07
      33.   It takes a lot of prostate to make real peace 16:36  |  Tough 29/10/07
      34.   Good for mercy in criminal cases 16:39  |  Tosefta 29/10/07
      35.   Olmert has alot more problems then just Prostate cancer 16:54  |  Kipperraes 29/10/07
      36.   Best wishes to Olmert 17:00  |  KUTW 29/10/07
      37.   swiss {dino} 17:01  |  scanadu 29/10/07
      38.   Conspiracy theory regarding Slowman 17:01  |  Barak Ravid 29/10/07
      39.   13# 17:11  |  Teacher 29/10/07
      40.   All the best for Mr. Olmert and Israel! 17:16  |  Jacob 29/10/07
      41.   Best wishes from 17:36  |  Abu Yusuf 29/10/07
      42.   To #23: Nothing strange at all for a man 50+ 17:45  |  J.M.Jordan 29/10/07
      43.   #38 - How it really works 18:02  |  Alex 29/10/07
      44.   Oh he`ll be fine... 18:13  |  Omar 29/10/07
      45.   CONCESSION FOR ANY ISRAELI LEADER MEANS DEATH 18:16  |  ASHKENAZI 29/10/07
      46.   Nephtaly, HaShem`s spokesperson? 18:18  |  Omar 29/10/07
      47.   Wishing Olmert well But......... 18:18  |  Dagma 29/10/07
      48.   Omar, Im not religions, sorry to disappoint 18:30  |  Nephtaly 29/10/07
      49.   To Nephtaly #23 18:46  |  Peter 29/10/07
      50.   resignation? 18:49  |  khairi janbek 29/10/07
      51.   I hope he gets well 18:57  |  Sharif Hafez 29/10/07
      52.   Olmert step down and give up your seat for new elections 19:05  |  Yochanan 29/10/07
      53.   I survived the same 19:11  |  Mike Burstyn 29/10/07
      54.   # 37 scanadu 19:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/07
      55.   Olmert`s prostate 19:31  |  Michael T 29/10/07
      56.   Peace man Olmert, I wish you quick recovery 19:36  |  Tamir Palestine 29/10/07
      57.   Swiss ()Dino() you didn`t say wish him a speed recovery 19:46  |  Tamir Palestine 29/10/07
      58.   PM Olmert, best wishes for a full recovery 19:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/10/07
      59.   Palestinian Government is the only to send him best wishes 19:50  |  Tamir Palestine 29/10/07
      60.   Peter 20:01  |  Nephtaly 29/10/07
      61.   FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT PALESTINIANS WISH AN ISRAELI RECOVERY 20:02  |  Yochanan 29/10/07
      62.   If we believe Olmert and his doctors 20:26  |  Zev 29/10/07
      63.   To Mike Burston # 51 - You too may have had 20:32  |  Dagma 29/10/07
      64.   PSA Tests. Re #53 20:40  |  Baz Mann 29/10/07
      65.   May PM Olmert have a speedy recovery and continue 20:46  |  Smadar 29/10/07
      66.   #34 Tosefta - were the last two paragraphs really necessary? 20:52  |  Smadar 29/10/07
      67.   `God works in Mysterious ways` they say.... 20:54  |  Dolly 29/10/07
      68.   may g-d bless olmert and keep him -- far far way from us 21:02  |  david 29/10/07
      69.   Latest Headline says Olmert`s Surgery ..... 21:23  |  Dagma 29/10/07
      70.   Latest Headline says Olmert`s Surgery ..... 21:23  |  Dagma 29/10/07
      71.   #45 ASHKENAZI: And if they don`t die of sickness... 21:24  |  Avi 29/10/07
      72.   the dictaitor wont give up his power for anything 21:25  |  zionist forever 29/10/07
      73.   #45 AshkeNazi: If God would punish man with sickness according... 21:37  |  Bill 29/10/07
      74.   The right day for Olmert`s operation 21:39  |  Tosefta 29/10/07
      75.   wrong guy prostate cancer 21:46  |  mehmet 29/10/07
      76.   To Omar....what about all of th "alla hu akbar" BS that goes on 21:49  |  GrossedOut 29/10/07
      77.   #45, Ashenazi: You are wrong - Begin died long after his term 21:50  |  Adi 29/10/07
      78.   CFOOL #24 21:51  |  iKeltin 29/10/07
      79.   Tosefta the Machiavelli?? 21:55  |  iKelti