JERUSALEM - The health of Israel's former president Ezer Weizman, who was admitted to hospital four weeks ago, has taken a turn for the worse, medics said Monday.
The 81-year-old is being treated in the emergency unit at Rambam hospital in the coastal town of Haifa.
"The former president is in a serious but stable condition. He is on an artificial respirator," said hospital deputy director Tzvi Ben Yichai.
Weizman, who served in the largely ceremonial post of president from 1993 to 2000, was fitted with a heart pacemaker shortly after he stood down from office tainted by a corruption scandal.
The former Israeli air force chief has been in and out of hospital repeatedly in recent years.
He was the first Israeli president to stand down mid-term, resigning in July 2000 after a scandal involving his acceptance of large cash gifts from a French tycoon.
03/07/2005 11:32 GMT