Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that he was secretly undergoing treatment for prostate cancer while releasing the results of his annual medical exam.
This is the first time Israel’s longest-serving leader has admitted that he has been diagnosed with cancer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate in December 2024, which the Prime Minister’s Office announced at the time. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on social media that doctors discovered a malignant tumor less than 1 centimeter in size in his prostate during the latest tests after surgery.
The Prime Minister’s Office also published two letters from his doctor on social media following the revelation. “This is an early detection of a very small lesion and no metastases, as all other tests have confirmed beyond doubt,” one letter said.
He did not say when he was last tested, but an Israeli official familiar with the matter told CNN that he was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began undergoing radiation therapy about two and a half months ago and recently completed treatment, sources said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to undergo targeted radiation therapy and said that “the stain has completely disappeared.”
“Thank God I am healthy,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said on social media. “I had a minor medical problem with my prostate, but it was completely treated.” He said he had delayed the publication of his annual medical report, which revealed his cancer diagnosis, for two months so it would not be used for propaganda purposes by Iran.
