Netanyahu Sick, ends up in hospital

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended up in Jerusalem's hospital on Tuesday evening after suffering from fever and coughing, his office said.

Netanyahu, 68, was ordered to undergo a series of tests at the Hadasah Medical Centre in Ein Karrem, according to a statement by the prime minister's office.

The statement listed its symptoms as high fever and coughing, without providing further details.

The hospital said the prime minister was passing preliminary tests.

Yenet news site reported that he underwent an X - ray, and the results were normal. According to the page, his condition was not life threatening.

The prime minister's situation deteriorated because he had not received sufficient rest to recover fully from a disease two weeks ago, Zvi Berdowitz, from the prime minister's press office, said.

He was taken to the hospital in his normal car, not in an ambulance.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office told the Times of Israel that they were not “aware” if an interim deputy prime minister was appointed, who would take over if Netanyahu should calm down.

For now, the military radio reported that it was conscious and capable of fulfilling all its responsibilities as prime minister.

A meeting of the high-level security cabinet scheduled for Wednesday was not cancelled. If Netanyahu cannot attend, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman will lead the meeting, said Defence Minister Yoav Galant for Army Radio.

Netanyija's previous indisputed illness had caused a delay in his question by police during an investigation into corruption charges concerning the telecom giant Bepat.

He was interrogated Monday, along with his wife Sarah and Jairus.