Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz underwent back surgery Tuesday night in the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Ramat Gan.
The former military chief has a herniated disc, sustained from his days in IDF, which recently deteriorated, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
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Fellow Blue and White party member and Minister within the Defense Ministry Michael Biton will replace Gantz until he fully recovers – subject to the government's approval.
The procedure was expected to take several hours and the recovery time is several days. The procedure is considered to be routine and non-life-threatening.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Gantz prior to the surgery to wish him good health and good luck.
Earlier Tuesday, Gantz visited a navy base in Haifa and the Home Front Command's Coronavirus Headquarters in Ramla.
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