Journalist Shlomi Eldar Reveals Battle With Depression and Cancer Diagnosis
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Journalist Shlomi Eldar revealed he suffered from severe depression and anxiety for six months, leading to a recommendation for psychiatric hospitalization. During the same period, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer and underwent recommended surgery. Eldar is also involved in a NIS 2.6 million defamation lawsuit filed by Prime Minister Netanyahu following a report Eldar co-authored.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Journalist Shlomi Eldar battled severe depression and anxiety, nearly facing psychiatric hospitalization.
- Eldar was diagnosed with bladder cancer during the same period and underwent recommended surgery.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu filed a NIS 2.6 million defamation suit against Eldar and others.
- The lawsuit followed a report alleging the UAE president warned Netanyahu before October 7th.
- Eldar's daughters intervened, urging him to seek psychiatric help.
Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar has revealed the depth of a personal crisis he experienced over a six-month period, during which he suffered from severe depression and anxiety attacks, leading to a recommendation for psychiatric hospitalization. Eldar described lying on his couch in his Tel Aviv apartment for months, staring at the ceiling, feeling his world had collapsed. His daughters, Keren and Or, became concerned and insisted he see a psychiatrist. During their sessions, the psychiatrist, fearing he might harm himself, asked if he wanted to die, to which Eldar responded affirmatively. The psychiatrist recommended hospitalization, but Eldar ultimately chose life.
During this same period, Eldar also faced a health scare when he discovered small drops of blood in his urine. He consulted a doctor at Soroka Medical Center, who quickly diagnosed him with bladder cancer and recommended immediate surgery. Eldar described the diagnosis as occurring in May-June, at the height of his personal crisis.
Adding to his struggles, Eldar was also embroiled in a public controversy. He and fellow journalist Ruth Yuval published an investigative report alleging that the UAE president had warned Netanyahu about a potential Hamas move before the October 7th attack. The Prime Minister's Office denied the report, and Netanyahu subsequently filed a NIS 2.6 million defamation lawsuit against several journalists and media outlets, including Eldar.