Olmert Has Prostate Cancer

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has prostate cancer, he announced today, and will undergo minor surgery to treat it. He said his medical condition is not life-threatening and would not affect his ability to govern. “From what my doctors have told me, this is a microscopic growth that can be removed with a brief surgical intervention,” he said.

Olmert said the public had “the right to know” about his condition. His predecessor, Ariel Sharon, who was disabled by a stroke, was criticized for not disclosing his health issues sooner, Reuters notes. The announcement comes as Olmert is engaged in difficult talks in advance of next month's US-sponsored Mideast peace conference. (More Israel stories.)