Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has contracted food poisoning and his doctors have ordered him to conduct state affairs from home for the next three days.
His office announced in a statement that the 75-year-old is recovering at home after being diagnosed with intestinal inflammation caused by spoiled food. Due to his current health condition, Netanyahu's upcoming hearings in his corruption trial have been postponed.
His next court appearance will not take place until September, due to a summer break in the judicial system. Netanyahu was examined overnight by Professor Alon Hershko of Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem after missing a cabinet meeting on Saturday and is now receiving intravenous drip treatment for dehydration.
"In accordance with his doctors' instructions, the prime minister will rest at home for the next three days and conduct state affairs from there," the Prime Minister's Office said.
Netanyahu's condition was declared "good" after additional tests, his office added.
The leader was scheduled to testify in court tomorrow and Tuesday, but his lawyer, Amit Hadad, requested that the hearings be postponed and sought a delay. The request filed with the Jerusalem District Court on his behalf indicated that the prime minister "will make an effort" to testify on Wednesday instead.
The State Attorney's Office previously agreed to postpone the two scheduled hearings after reviewing Netanyahu's medical records, but clarified that they must be made up by the end of the week. "Under these circumstances, and given what is written in the medical file, we cannot object," it said in response.
"However, in light of the numerous hearings that have been canceled recently, we will request that the defendant testify on Wednesday and Thursday of this week." The court, however, said it was canceling the hearings rather than postponing them because they could not be held later in the week due to scheduling conflicts.