Netanyahu treated for 'foreign object' in eye

Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was treated briefly for a "foreign object" that became lodged in his eye as he slept.

Netanyahu was taken for medical treatment early on Sunday and quickly released.

An announcement to reporters that Netanyahu would miss Sunday's weekly Cabinet meeting for "personal reasons" sparked speculation that the absence was related to a swine flu scare in his office, a rumour that was swiftly denied by Netanyahu's aides.

The Maariv daily reported on Sunday that the wife and driver of Netanyahu's military adviser were tested after showing possible swine flu symptoms. The tests came back negative.

An eye doctor removed the particle from Netanyahu's eye, treated it with ointment and released him.