The 9th President of Israel, Shimon Peres, suffered a stroke this evening (Tuesday) and was rushed to the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital.
While his condition was first described as stable, reports now say the former President is "in serious condition." Peres' office later said that his doctors have decided to intubate him and put him under sedation in order to further evaluate his condition and make it easier to treat him. He will undergo a CT scan so as to get a full and updated assessment of his situation.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wished Peres a speedy recovery from the stroke.
Writing on Twitter, Netanyahu said, "Shimon, we love you and all the people wish you a [speedy] recovery."
Peres, 93, had a pacemaker implanted last week. The former President's doctors had recommended the pacemaker to avoid episodes of heartbeat irregularities and thus optimize Peres' continued full functioning.
At the end of last month, Peres suffered chest pains and his son-in-law Professor Rafi Valdan was urgently called to his home in Tel Aviv. Tests revealed Peres had heart irregularities.
Last January, Peres suffered a heart attack, after which he underwent a bypass and was hospitalized for several days in Tel Hashomer. Two weeks later he was hospitalized again following a minor irregularity in his heartbeat.
At that time, senior cardiologist from the Sheba hospital also arrived at Peres' home, treated the former President, and decided to leave him at home and not send him to the hospital.