Ground Report

Speaking to a packed news conference in Jerusalem on Monday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that he has prostate cancer and would soon have surgery, but said the disease is not life-threatening and he would continue to perform his duties.I will be able to carry out my duties fully before the treatment and within hours afterward," Olmert said. "My doctors … informed me that there is a full chance of recovery and there is nothing about the tumor which is life-threatening or liable to impair my performance or my ability to carry out the mission which has been bestowed upon me."Olmert further added that it is a matter of a microscopic growth, it hasn’t spread and can be removed by a short surgical procedure. Olmert, 62, took office in January 2006 after his predecessor, Ariel Sharon, suffered a debilitating stroke. Olmert announceded the news of his illness calmly, speaking for about three minutes to the media and therafter handed over the podium to his medical team.