Shimon Peres Suffers Major Stroke - September 13, 2016

The Event

On September 13, 2016, former Israeli President Shimon Peres, the last surviving founding father of the State of Israel, suffered a major stroke and was rushed to Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer near Tel Aviv. The 93-year-old statesman had complained of feeling weak and experienced a stroke with significant intracranial bleeding.

Medical Response

Doctors at Sheba Medical Center immediately placed Peres in the intensive care unit, sedating him and placing him on a respirator to allow his brain to recover. Dr. Yitzhak Kreiss, director of the medical center, described the stroke as "major" with a "component of bleeding".

Initial Prognosis

Initially, the situation appeared dire. Peres's son, Chemi Peres, told reporters that the family was facing "difficult hours" and would "have to make certain decisions". The nation braced for the worst as news spread of the beloved statesman's condition.

Signs of Improvement

By September 14, doctors reported cautious optimism. Peres's son-in-law and personal physician, Dr. Rafi Walden, revealed encouraging signs:

Peres responded by squeezing Walden's hand when sedation was reduced
He appeared "awake and listening and reacting"
His condition was upgraded to "critical but stable"
There was "no imminent threat to his life"

"I talked to him and asked him to press my hand and he did so vigorously," Walden told reporters. "We are definitely convinced that he is awake and listening and reacting."

National Response

The news of Peres's hospitalization prompted an outpouring of concern across Israel and the international community:

Israeli Leadership

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted: "Shimon, we love you and the entire nation prays for your recovery"
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman expressed cautious optimism: "I am a bit more optimistic than I would have been last night"

Public Concern

Peres's condition dominated headlines in Israel, where he remained one of the most popular public figures despite decades in the often-divisive world of Israeli politics.

Historical Context

Shimon Peres's hospitalization marked a potential end of an era:

A Storied Career

Last founding father: Peres was the final surviving member of the generation that established Israel in 1948
Every major office: He held virtually every significant position in Israeli government, including:
- Prime Minister (twice)
- President (2007-2014)
- Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Transport
Nobel Peace Prize: In 1994, he shared the prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat for the Oslo Accords

The Oslo Accords Anniversary

Ironically, the stroke occurred exactly 23 years after September 13, 1993, when Peres signed the historic Oslo Accords on the White House lawn, shaking hands with Arafat while President Bill Clinton looked on.

Recent Health Struggles

The September 2016 stroke was not Peres's first health scare:

January 2016: Suffered a minor heart attack and underwent cardiac angioplasty
July 2016: Diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm)
Early September 2016: Had a pacemaker implanted just days before the stroke

Despite these challenges, Peres had remained remarkably active, continuing his work with the Peres Center for Peace and maintaining a busy public schedule.

The Final Days

While Peres showed initial signs of improvement following the September 13 stroke, his condition would deteriorate over the following two weeks. He passed away on September 28, 2016, at the age of 93, marking the end of an era in Israeli history.

Legacy

Shimon Peres's life embodied the history of Israel itself—from the pre-state era through independence, wars, peacemaking, and into the 21st century. His death would prompt an unprecedented gathering of world leaders at his funeral, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who attended despite political tensions.