Former Premier Menachem Begin left Shaare Zedek Hospital today after a three-week stay during which he underwent surgery for a prostate condition. He appeared to be in good health though wan, and in good spirits.
The fact that he spoke to the news media and allowed himself to be photographed immediately raised speculation that Begin will end the self-imposed seclusion that has lasted since his sudden resignation as Premier in September, 1983.
Speaking briefly to reporters before leaving for his home in a Jerusalem suburb, Begin refused to be drawn into comment on current political matters. He said he “wanted to thank” the medical staff and nurses who had “taken such good care of me.” He had special praise for Dr. Amitzur Farkas, head of the urology department at Shaare Zedek, who successfully performed surgery on the 71-year-old Begin on September 20.
The former Premier’s long-time aide and confidant, Yehiel Kadishai, told the media that Begin may now start writing the book he plans, a personal saga of the Holocaust and the birth of Israel tentatively titled “The Generation of Destruction and Redemption.”
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