Shimon Peres, one of Israel’s defining political figures, has been described by his doctors as “fighting for his life”, two weeks after he suffered a massive stroke. “The president is fighting for his life,” medical sources said. Peres was rushed to hospital near Tel Aviv on 13 September after he reported feeling ill. Following tests he was diagnosed to have suffered a stroke and was placed in a medically induced coma. For a long time Peres was deeply divisive in Israeli politics, but he went on to become one of the country’s most popular public figures, serving a seven-year term as the president, which he completed two years ago.

Source: The Guardian September 27, 2016 16:31 UTC