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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's health record has been relatively good. He is an avid runner who exercises regularly, even during official visits abroad.

In January, Olmert underwent cosmetic surgery to "lift" his eyelids, barely hours after returning from a trip to China.

His aides said the operation lasted some 40 minutes and was performed under local anesthetic.

Olmert did not notify members of his cabinet of the surgery,nor did he disclose it to reporters who accompanied him to China. He told of the surgery only afterward, in a meeting of the cabinet.

By law, had Olmert required a general anesthetic, he would have needed top transfer his formal authority as prime minister to his senior deputy prime minister, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.