By Stan Goodenough
Oct 29, 2007
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Monday he has contracted a small cancerous tumor on his prostate, but that the development would not impede his ability to perform his duties.
Olmert's doctors reportedly believe the growth can be surgically removed and that the prime minister will not need radio- or chemotherapy. The prognosis is for a full recovery.
The prime minister made his announcement at a specially-called press conference, concerning which the prime minister's spokesman would only say it related to Olmert's health.
Speculation and uncertainty in the hours before the press conference caused jitters on the Israeli stock market, but it stabilized again after the "microscopic" nature of the tumor was revealed.