Netanyahu says doing 'excellently', plans to attend key reform vote on Monday
By Ari Rabinovitch
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was «doing excellently» after an overnight hospitalisation and vowed to be in parliament on Monday to vote for a disputed judicial reform that triggered a fresh round of mass protests on Sunday.
With Israel embroiled in its most serious domestic political crisis in decades, the 73-year-old leader was rushed to Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv on Saturday after a heart monitor implanted a week earlier in what was described as a dehydration episode detected a «temporary arrhythmia», his doctors said.
Thanking well-wishers and the team that treated him in hospital, Netanyahu in a video statement said: «As you can see, I am doing excellently.»
«We are pursuing efforts to complete the legislation, as well as efforts to do this through consensus, but in any event I want you to know that tomorrow morning I'll be joining my colleagues in the Knesset,» said Netanyahu, smiling and wearing a blazer, referring to Monday's vote.
Monday will see the beginning of voting in parliament to ratify the first of a package of reforms in Netanyahu's highly contested judicial overhaul, which has ignited months of nationwide protests and concern abroad for Israel's democracy.
Lawmakers on Sunday began debating the bill, which would limit the Supreme Court's ability to void decisions made by the government and ministers it deems «unreasonable». The result of Monday's vote could come as soon as that evening.
As the debate in parliament went on, tens of thousands of Israelis opposing the judicial changes lined city streets in Jerusalem carrying flags and beating drums under a scorching summer sun. Many pitched tents in a park near the Knesset.
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