Former Labor Party Leader Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer
Shelly Yachimovich, former Labor Party leader and Knesset member, has been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her pancreas.
Jerusalem, 23 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Shelly Yachimovich, who headed Israel’s Labor Party from 2011 to 2013, on Sunday posted on Facebook, “I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in my pancreas,” adding, “I undergo fairly intense chemotherapy every two weeks.”
Yachimovich, 66, a popular journalist and media host, served three terms as the official Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset, and a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
At the end of 2025, she was diagnosed with an early-stage cancerous tumor in her pancreas, with no evidence of metastases. She underwent immediate surgery to remove the tumor.
Follow-up CT scans have shown no sign that the cancer has returned. However, she continues to undergo intensive chemotherapy every two weeks as a precaution against recurrence.
Despite the demanding treatments, Shelly Yachimovich said she was trying to maintain as much of her normal routine as possible, including cycling and continuing to work within the limitations imposed by her treatment.