Israel's former president Shimon Peres suffered a "mild" heart attack Thursday, prompting him to be rushed to the hospital to undergo a heart procedure, according to a statement from his spokeswoman. The 92-year-old fell ill at his home and after the resulting check-up found that he had an irregular heartbeat, he was sent to a hospital near Tel Aviv where he underwent a successful cardiac catheterization, another statement elaborated, according to FOX News.
His personal physician, Ralph Walden, gave an update on Peres' health outside the hospital saying, "his condition is excellent."
"I would like to calm the people of Israel," Walden told reporters outside the Tel Hashomer hospital, according to ABC's Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV. "He feels very well and he is awake. He was awake the whole time and he is only worried about the continuation of his schedule."
He added that Peres is expected to remain in the hospital for "a few days" so his health could fully stabilize. "We expect that within a short time he will return to normal," he added.
Peres is a prominent figure in Israeli politics and remains within the public-eye even after completing his seven-year term as president in 2014. First elected to parliament in 1959, Peres has filled nearly every position in Israeli public life since he became director general of the Defense Ministry at the age of 29 and led the development of Israel's nuclear program, reported NBC News. He has since held every major Cabinet post including defense, finance, foreign affairs and even served as prime minister on three separate occasions in 1977, 1984 and again in 1995.
Though government life is behind him, he remains active through the Peres Center for Peace, an NGO that promotes coexistence between Arabs and Jews, as well as peace and development in the Middle East.
