By RIA Novosti,
Tel Aviv : Israeli President Shimon Peres was hospitalised late Saturday after he briefly passed out at a public meeting in Tel Aviv, a media report said.
According to YNet news website, Peres, 86, collapsed at the Rabin Center in Tel Aviv at an event hosted by the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), which comprises many young business executives.
The president received an emergency treatment at the site, quickly regained consciousness and even attempted to refuse being sent to a hospital.
“It was simply very hot and he stood up for a long time and felt dizzy. He fainted for a few seconds,” the president’s personal physician Rafi Valdan said.
“He feels well and the incident is over. Just to be on the safe side, we are transferring him to Sheba Medical Center for the night,” the doctor said.
However, it is not clear whether Peres would be able to attend a meeting Sunday with US Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell, who arrived late Saturday in Israel to help start Israeli-Palestinian talks before the two sides meet at the UN General Assembly Sep 23.
The Polish-born former prime minister won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for reaching a series of key interim accords with Palestinians, and was elected Israel’s ninth president in 2007.
Despite his advanced age, Peres maintains a busy schedule and takes part in numerous meetings and events every week, the YNet said.