Israeli PM Netanyahu undergoes hernia surgery
By Associated Press
Aug 11, 2013 1:25 AM CDT

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he has successfully undergone hernia surgery.

Netanyahu's office said early Sunday he is recuperating at a Jerusalem hospital following overnight surgery for an umbilical hernia. A medical team diagnosed the hernia after Netanyahu felt pain on Saturday.

The Prime Minister was given general anesthesia, and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon was appointed acting Prime Minister during the few hours Netanyahu was unconscious. Netanyahu will be released later Sunday to recuperate further at home.

The weekly Cabinet meeting has been postponed.

The prime minister's office says Defense Minister Yaalon is leading a ministerial meeting on prisoners' affairs in Netanyahu's place.

Ministers are expected to approve the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of U.S.-led Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that begin this week.