Israel’s Peres hospitalized after stroke

JERUSALEM » Former Israeli President Shimon Peres today suffered a stroke and was rushed to a hospital, where he was reported to be in serious condition.

Peres’ office said his doctors sedated the 93-year-old and placed him on a respirator. He was expected to undergo a CT scan.

Israeli TV stations, citing hospital officials, said Peres was suffering from bleeding to the brain and described his condition as serious. Early this year, Peres was twice hospitalized for heart problems but quickly released.

Peres has held virtually every senior political office in Israel over a seven-decade career, including three terms as prime minister as well as stints as foreign minister and finance minister.

He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in reaching an interim peace agreement with the Palestinians. As president, a largely ceremonial office, he cultivated an image as the country’s elder statesman and became a popular fixture at international conferences like the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Peres has remained active since completing his seven-year term as president in 2014, and is one of the country’s most popular public figures. He often hosts public events at his peace center, bringing together Arabs and Jews in efforts to promote peace and coexistence.

In a message posted on Facebook, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Peres a speedy recovery. “Shimon, we love you and the entire nation wishes you get well,” he said.