JERUSALEM, Oct. 29 — The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, announced today that he had early stage prostate cancer, but said the cancer was not life-threatening and would not distract him from his work.
Mr. Olmert, who is 62, said the illness had come to light following routine tests several days ago. Speaking at a news conference where he was joined by two of his doctors, Mr. Olmert said he would undergo a short surgical procedure in several months, and would not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
“I will be able to function fully before the treatment and a few hours after it,†he said. “I will be fully able to carry out my role.â€
Rumors about the state of Mr. Olmert’s health swirled throughout the morning following the unexpected announcement of the news conference, and, according to Israeli radio, the uncertainty had pushed down the Israeli stock market. After the news conference, the market stabilized.
Mr. Olmert took over the duties of prime minister in March 2006 after his predecessor, Ariel Sharon, suffered a crippling stroke. He was sworn in as prime minister in May 2006. Mr. Sharon still lies in a coma in a hospital.
Mr. Olmert underwent tests about 10 days ago after his return from an official visit to Russia, he said at the news conference. He said he had received the results several days ago and had felt pressed to call the news conference to deliver a “personal message†about his health.
Mr. Olmert was joined at the news conference by two doctors — Yaacov Ramon, who is working on Mr. Olmert’s case at a Tel Aviv hospital, and the prime minister’s official doctor, Shlomo Segev. Mr. Olmert said the cancer was a microscopic growth in his prostate gland that had not spread.
Mr. Olmert’s time in office has been tumultuous. He survived calls for his resignation following a harshly critical government report about his management of Israel’s war against Hezbollah in 2006.
He has also faced police and judicial investigations, and earlier this month was questioned for five hours by the police at his official residence as part of a criminal investigation into whether he tried, as acting finance minister, to help steer the sale of an Israeli bank to a friend in 2005.
On Friday, he met with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, for more than two hours and they reaffirmed their commitment to carrying out the first phase of the so-called road map peace plan.
Mr. Olmert has been holding regular talks with Mr. Abbas in the run-up to an American-sponsored peace conference expected to take place in Annapolis, Md., before the end of the year.
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