WASHINGTON — (CNN) The health of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres has deteriorated, Israel’s interior minister said Tuesday, two weeks after Peres suffered a stroke.
A visibly shaken Aryeh Deri told reporters at a Tel Aviv hospital that he was praying for Peres at his bedside.
Peres, 93, has been at the hospital since his stroke on September 13.
Doctors had signaled cautious optimism a day after Peres’ hospitalization, saying that although he was intubated and sedated, he was able to shake his son-in-law’s hand as his level of sedation was reduced.
The elder statesman had health scares earlier this year.
Peres was rushed to the hospital in mid-January after suffering a minor heart attack.
He underwent emergency surgery and got a stent, but would not be slowed down, asking the doctor how soon before he would be up and running again.
He returned to the hospital 10 days later after suffering from an irregular heartbeat.
Developing story — more to come.
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
(Photo: CNN)
