JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former Israeli President Shimon Peres reportedly was feeling well after suffering a mild heart attack.
Peres, 92, was taken to the hospital Thursday morning after feeling chest pains. He underwent a cardiac angioplasty at the Heart Institute of Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer to open a blocked artery, according to reports.
Peres will remain under observation in the hospital for several days.
Two weeks ago, social media was flooded with rumors that Peres had died, leading him to take to Facebook to declare that rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated.
“I wish to thank the citizens of Israel for the support, concern and interest, and wish to clarify that the rumors are false,” Peres said in a Facebook post. “I’m continuing with my daily schedule as usual to do whatever I can to assist The State of Israel and its citizens.”
Peres retired as president of Israel in 2014 after more than half a century in public life.
In an interview last week with JTA, Peres said he is busier than ever, including his work with the Peres Center for Peace. On a typical day, he is up at 4:30 a.m. to read and walks on his treadmill, he said. By 8:30 he is at his office, and he often works until 11 p.m.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
