Prayers for the recovery of President Izhak Ben-Zvi, who was declared gravely ill by the physicians attending him, were recited today in all synagogues throughout Israel. The President was in a coma, and a medical bulletin today declared that there had been a “sudden deterioration” in his condition.
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim visited the President’s home last night. The President’s family kept an all-night vigil at his bedside. Mr. Ben-Zvi returned to his home several days ago, after spending several days in the hospital, but slid into a coma Friday night. His physicians did not name his ailment, but he is understood to be suffering from cancer.
With Israel about to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the founding of the State, there was little likelihood that Mr. Ben-Zvi would be able to review the traditional Independence Day parade. Kaddish Luz, Speaker of Israel’s Parliament, is expected, therefore, to be named Acting President for that day. Mr. Ben-Zvi is 78. Elected in 1952 as Israel’s second President, succeeding the late Dr. Chaim Weizmann, he was reelected in 1957, and again for a third five-year term last year.
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