Benjamin Netanyahu undergoes hernia surgery, recovering

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful hernia surgery on Sunday, amid growing dissatisfaction with his government amid a bloody conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu, 74, underwent general anesthesia during the operation at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, leaving close friend Justice Minister Yariv Levin in charge as acting prime minister for several hours.

Doctors and Netanyahu’s office said Monday that the surgery went as planned and was a success.

“He is awake, recovering and talking to his family,” said Professor Aaron Piski, director of the hospital’s general surgery department.

The project office said earlier that the hernia was discovered during a routine checkup on Saturday night, but did not disclose its location in the body.

Netanyahu went as planned on the Sunday before the surgery, which included meetings with the families of female IDF women Soldiers held hostage in Gaza and War Cabinet meetings.

The Israeli prime minister underwent surgery to install a pacemaker last year after suffering “temporary heart block.”

The surgery came a week after he was hospitalized for what was described at the time as dehydration.

The incident sparked widespread speculation among many in Israel about the health of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

Earlier last month, he missed several days of work after contracting the flu.

A medical report released in January said Netanyahu was in “completely normal health,” his pacemaker was working normally and there was no evidence of arrhythmia or any other problematic condition.

Netanyahu faces increasingly hostile public Hundreds of thousands of people protested against him in Jerusalem on Sunday night, with the majority calling for his resignation and new elections.

One of the most prominent posters on the street yesterday read in Hebrew: “A spoiled man cannot hope to solve the problem. Election now,” with his photo on it.