Israel’s Peres hospitalized after stroke

In a statement in front of the medical center, Peres’ son, Chemi, acknowledged to reporters that “in the coming hours, we will have to make decisions”, though he did not specify what those were. Hoping for the best.

“This is not an easy time for me and my family”, he said.

Peres was nominated in early 2007 by Kadima to run in that year’s presidential election, and was elected by the Knesset to the presidency on 13 June 2007 and sworn into office on 15 July 2007 for a seven-year term.

Peres is the elder statesman of Israeli politics and the last surviving link to the country’s founding fathers. He has held nearly every senior political position in Israel over his 70-year career.

In January, Peres had a heart attack and then cardiac angioplasty to open a blocked artery.

He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in reaching an interim peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Peres’ office said in a statement at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday that Peres was “stable and fully conscious”.

Just hours before the stroke, Peres had uploaded a video to his Facebook account urging the public to buy locally-made products. As president, a largely ceremonial office, he cultivated an image as the country’s elder statesman and became a popular fixture at global conferences like the World Economic Forum in Davos. Earlier this month, he participated in the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy.

Former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres has been hospitalized after suffering a major stroke on Tuesday.

Despite his age, Mr Peres has maintained an active public schedule, mostly through his non-governmental Peres Centre for Peace, which promotes closer ties between Israel and the Palestinians. Netanyahu conveyed the prayers of the entire nation for a quick recovery, according to the statement.