Netanyahu recovers from pacemaker surgery hours before judicial reform vote

Benjamin Netanyahu underwent heart surgery on Sunday morning to fit him with a pacemaker. Israel's prime minister is recovering and could be discharged before Monday when the Knesset (parliament) will vote on his judicial reform bill that sparked months of negotiations with the opposition and multiple protests throughout the country.

His office reported he was hospitalized late Saturday night. Netanyahu reassured citizens about his health condition on Twitter. If possible, he is expected to participate in Monday's vote in person.

The prime minister thanked his supporters and the doctors for taking care of him. "As you can see, I am doing very well," he said. While the Sheba Center confirmed that he was in good health, they indicated that he would remain under "medical supervision in the cardiology department."

Netanyahu, who has held his current position three different times since 1996, was hospitalized in mid-July due to dehydration caused by the heat wave. At that time, he was also hospitalized at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, near his home on the Caesarea coast. Once his condition improved, he was discharged on July 16.

That time, he had been fitted with a monitoring device, a device that detected anomalies on Saturday night. As a result, he had to be fitted with a pacemaker on Sunday morning. "I feel excellent, but I listen to my doctors," Bibi said before his operation.

Israel experienced many protests over the past few months in connection with the judicial reform bill, which plans to take away some of the powers of the Supreme Court. According to the government, the institution has become elitist and no longer properly represents the citizens of Israel, so the Executive Branch will have more power in selecting its members. The reform vote will take place on Monday, so all eyes will be on Parliament.