JERUSALEM, Oct. 29, 2007
Israeli PM Olmert Has Prostate Cancer
Says Disease Not Life Threatening; Diagnosis Comes Ahead Of Crucial Peace Summit
-
-
In this handout image provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gives a news conference on Oct. 29, 2007 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Moshe Milner/GPO via Getty Images)
-
In this photo released by the Government Press Office, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, meet in Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/ GPO, Avi Ohayon, HO)
-
-
Interactive Mideast Conflict Events, key players and a history of the world's most unstable region.
-
Fast Facts Israel Learn about the people, economy and history.
Speaking to a packed news conference in Jerusalem, the Israeli leader said the disease was caught at an early stage and that he will have surgery "over the next few months."
"I will be able to carry out my duties fully before the treatment and within hours afterward," Olmert said. "My doctors ... informed me that there is a full chance of recovery and there is nothing about the tumor which is life-threatening or liable to impair my performance or my ability to carry out the mission which has been bestowed upon me."
"According to what my doctors were told, it is a matter of a microscopic growth, with no metastization which can be removed by a short surgical procedure. According to the medical opinion, there will be no need for radiation treatment or chemotherapy," Olmert said.
Olmert, 62, took office in March 2006 after his predecessor, Ariel Sharon, suffered a debilitating stroke. Olmert delivered the news of his illness calmly, speaking for about three minutes before leaving the room and giving the podium to his doctors.
One of Olmert's doctors, Shlomo Segev, said the prime minister had a biopsy on Oct. 19 and got the results a week later. Another of his doctors, Yaacov Ramon, said Olmert has a "limited growth" that poses no short-term threat.
He said treatment could wait several months without any risk, and that surgery should eliminate the cancer completely. The chances of full recovery are 95 percent, he said.
"The chances for additional treatment like chemo or radiation therapy is next to zero," Ramon said.
He said those who have the surgery are usually hospitalized for three days, followed by a recuperation period at home during which they can work. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was expected to take over from Olmert if he is incapacitated by the surgery.
The announcement came at a delicate time in Mideast peacemaking, just weeks ahead of a U.S.-brokered summit designed to relaunch long-stalled peace talks. It was not clear how or if Olmert's illness would affect his already troubled efforts to frame a common outline with the Palestinians ahead of the conference, scheduled to take place in Annapolis, Maryland in either November or December.
Meanwhile, CBS News correspondent Robert Berger reports Israel is taking the heat for reducing fuel supplies to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Human rights groups have appealed to Israel's supreme court to stop the reduction of Israeli fuel supplies to Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisen says it's a limited measure - retaliation for Palestinian rocket attacks. Palestinians say it is unfair collective punishment.
"The Prime Minister confirmed Israel's commitment that there will not be a humanitarian crisis in Gaza," Eisen said.
In other developments:
(AP Photo)
No further details were immediately available on Olmert's condition or plans for treatment.
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland beneath the base of the penis that makes seminal fluid. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. In most men, it grows so slowly that it will never threaten their lives. Treatment often leads to problems having sex or controlling the bladder, so finding a way to distinguish which tumors can safely be left alone is the field's top priority.
The primary risk factor is age, with the disease commonly striking after a man is after 50.
It can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and occasionally chemotherapy, among other treatments.
Quote
Leaders in Israel do not issue regular pronouncements on their health, as is the case in some other countries. Health issues were thrust into the fore two years ago when Saron suffered the first of two strokes. The second, hemorrhagic stroke in January 2006 rendered him comatose, and he remains hospitalized in a long-term care facility until this day.We wish him a speedy recovery, and we hope to continue working with him toward achieving a two-state solution and ending the Israeli occupation.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb ErekatOlmert, who first entered parliament in 1973, was suddenly catapulted into the prime minister's seat after Sharon was incapacitated. Defying initial predictions, he led the new Kadima Party that Sharon had formed to victory in parliamentary elections two months later.
Though widely pilloried for mishandling Israel's war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon that summer, Olmert used his political talents to keep his coalition government together, surviving in office despite dismal approval ratings.
In recent months, Olmert has been meeting regularly with Abbas in an effort to draft a joint statement on peace ahead of the Annapolis conference. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants a relatively detailed document outlining a future peace deal, but Olmert prefers a more vague document.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat sent his best wishes to the Israeli leader.
"We wish him a speedy recovery, and we hope to continue working with him toward achieving a two-state solution and ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967," he said.
Erekat's boss, President Abbas, is a survivor of prostate cancer.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More From World
Add a Comment See all 46 Comments
- war criminal olmert ...
- Reply to this comment
- Proof Palestine was called Palestine before 1948?
I mean, for crying out loud, what''s going on in this country? How can some Americans be so freaking ignorant?
Where do these folks come from? How is it possible for so many Americans to know so little about the world and yet have this hatred for people they don''t know about?
The term Palestine was first used by the Greek historian Herodotus who''s considered the first historian in the world. He used the term in a book he wrote around 400 BC.
The Romans adapted the name and it''s found in their writings.
And how about the British and their Mandate of Palestine? The League of Nations using the term before that.
The Turks before that.
The freaking Crusaders themselves.
Just what the hell is going on in this country? Who are these people who, like Bush, are so ignorant and yet feel so passionately about subjects that frankly they really don''t care so much about and know noghing about and yet want to fight the entire world over it?
This whole thing is so bizarre. To see Americans becoming this obsessed like them rightwing folks you hear on the radio.
What are they doing to themselves and to the US?
Truly, this is sad. - Reply to this comment
- That''''s why FeelFree1 is seen on any article related to Israel. It''''s a known fact that fundy Muslims are allowed to lie about their faith in order to push their agenda.
This is simple research folks, and it can be easily read about by visiting:
www.thereligionofpeace.com
n
(ps...the next post FeelFree1 will post will be to call me a name and then call for everyone to ignore my posts)....just watch.
Posted by singinrick at 07:36 PM : Oct 29, 2007
Look who is complaining! LOL! You feel persecuted sickRick, don''t ya? - Reply to this comment
- His word, the Bible, is Truth, and it is all I will ever need.
Posted by singinrick at 07:17 PM : Oct 29, 2007
Which of these verses of Bible you call the truth. They can not be truth as they contradict each other;
Verse
Acts 9:7(heard voice, saw no man)
Contradicting verse
Acts 22:9(no voice, saw light)
Verse
Matt.10:2-4, Mark3:16-19 (Jesus apostles'''''''''''''''' names, the twelfth is Lebbeus who''''''''''''''''s surname was Thaddeus) Luke
Contradicting verse
6:14-16 (apostles'''''''''''''''' names now different, the twelfth in Luke is Judas the brother of James)
Verse
Matthew 27:5 (Judas hangs himself)
Contradicting verse
Acts 1:18 (Judas falls headlong, his bowels gush)
Verse
Matthew 11:13-14,17:13 (Elias is John the Baptist)
Contradicting Verse
John 1:21 (Elias is not John the Baptist)
One of the reasons israel should be wiped off the world map is becasue her existance is based on the book of lies "BIBLE". - Reply to this comment
- Patriotic9, if you agree with the evil Achmadenijad, then why don''''''''t you pick up a Quran, join the Iranian Islamic republic army, and join in on the fight against the evil United States and Israel like you really want to do.
Posted by singinrick at 07:14 PM : Oct 29, 2007
This is the main reason why I hate enemies of United States like you, who use UNHOLY LAND UNITED STATES for a NON-AMERICAN HOLY LAND. Why did you discuss United States with the occupied Palestine (you call it Israel)?
Is that one of the US States or US Territories or she gives us OIL in cheaper price? - Reply to this comment
- Behold! The angels said:"O Mary! Allah has chosen you and purified you-chosen you above the women of all nations." (Quran 3:42)
- Reply to this comment
- At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Truly an amazing thing has you brought!
"O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!"
But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He said I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me Revelation and made me a prophet;
"And he has made me blessed whosesoever I be, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
"He has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
"So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the day I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
Such was Jesus the son of Mary: it is a statement of truth about which the vainly dispute. (Quran 19:27-34) - Reply to this comment
- Patriotic9, if you agree with the evil Achmadenijad, then why don''''t you pick up a Quran, join the Iranian Islamic republic army, and join in on the fight against the evil United States and Israel like you really want to do.
Posted by singinrick at 07:14 PM : Oct 29, 2007
First of all, I won''t pick up Quran because it''s nothing but one of the versions of bible. I am not just making a statement but going to prove it with valid evidences as follows;
When the angels said: "O mary, God gives you good news of a word from him (god), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous." She said:" My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?" He said: "So (it will be). God creates what he wills. If he decrees a thing, He says to it only, "Be!" and it is" (Quran, 3:45-47)
The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, "Be!" and he came into being. (Quran, 3:59)
"I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God''s permission. I heal the blind from the birth and leper. And I bring the dead to life by God''s permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses" (Quran, 3:49)
continued - Reply to this comment
Related:
Israeli Attorney General refuses to rubber-stamp collective punishment war crimes against Palestinians by cutting off electricity:
www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL29279137._CH_.2400- Reply to this comment
- By the way, Israel has everthing to do with the Bible, so my comments are entirely appropriate on this board.
Posted by singinrick at 04:12 PM : Oct 29, 2007
Isreal has everything to do with bible so israel has every thing to do with lies and fabrications as bible itself is full of LIES, FABRICATION, RACISM, INJUSTICE, ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL IDEAS, ANTI-WOMEN IDEAS, etc.
One of these verses in the bible gotta be lie as they contradict each other;
Verse
Acts 9:7(heard voice, saw no man)
Contradicting verse
Acts 22:9(no voice, saw light)
Verse
Matt.10:2-4, Mark3:16-19 (Jesus apostles'''''''' names, the twelfth is Lebbeus who''''''''s surname was Thaddeus) Luke
Contradicting verse
6:14-16 (apostles'''''''' names now different, the twelfth in Luke is Judas the brother of James)
Verse
Matthew 27:5 (Judas hangs himself)
Contradicting verse
Acts 1:18 (Judas falls headlong, his bowels gush)
Verse
Matthew 11:13-14,17:13 (Elias is John the Baptist)
Contradicting Verse
John 1:21 (Elias is not John the Baptist)
One of the reasons israel should be wiped off the world map is becasue it''s existance is based on the book of lies "BIBLE". - Reply to this comment
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
