Israel's Shimon Peres' condition 'serious but stable'

Israel's former President Shimon Peres is in a serious but stable condition, his doctor said on Wednesday morning, after the statesman suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday. 

Peres was rushed to Tel Hashomer hospital on Tuesday and has been put in an induced coma.

"We were happy to see that when there was a short pause in the anesthetics," said his son-in-law and personal doctor, Prof. Rafi Walden. 

"We realised that he's responsive, that he's probably attentive to what we're saying to him. He shook our hand."

Walden added that doctors intend to lower Peres' sedation later on Wednesday to test his responsiveness again.

"The chances of survival are pretty good. As for the degree of neurological recovery, nobody can say at this early stage," Walden added.

"I am following with concern the updates from the hospital, and pray together with the entire people for my friend Shimon's recovery." Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Dr. Itzik Kreiss, head of the Tel Hashomer hospital, said that a press conference would be held Wednesday afternoon to update the public on Peres' condition.

Over seven decades in Israeli politics, Peres held nearly every senior political office in Israel, including three terms as prime minister and spells as foreign and finance minister. He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in reaching an interim peace agreement with the Palestinians.

He was also in charge of brutal Israeli operations in Lebanon, which left hundreds dead, and was prime minister during the Qana massacre when Israeli artillery fired on a UN compound sheltering civilians.

Earlier this year, Peres was twice hospitalised for heart problems but quickly released. Last week his office said he had received a pacemaker.

Israeli state officials have been quick to wish the former statesman a speedy recovery.

According to Haaretz Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with the hospital director, who updated him on Peres's condition.

Meanwhile President Reuven Rivlin said: "I am following with concern the updates from the hospital, and pray together with the entire people for my friend Shimon's recovery."

Agencies contributed to this report.