Jewish communities around the world prayed for Israel's former president Shimon Peres as he lay ill in hospital after suffering a severe stroke this week.
The Nobel laureate is currently in a "critical condition" and his doctors have said that there is no change in his condition, following "optimistic" signs on Wednesday. The 93-year-old was being ventilated and sedated in hospital in Ramat Gan, but there was said to be "no imminent threat to his life".
Further consultations with doctors are expected later today.
Mr Peres was put into a medically induced coma after experiencing significant bleeding in the brain.
Doctor Itzik Kreiss, director of the Sheba Medical Centre, said the former President had been moved to the intensive care unit of the neurology department on Wednesday, "for further treatment and observation".
He had been taken to hospital the previous day after complaining of a headache. While there, he suffered a stroke in the right side of his brain.
Professor Rafi Walden, Mr Peres's son-in-law and personal physician, said the veteran statesman was responsive when doctors reduced his sedation.
"I talked to him and asked him to press my hand and he did so vigorously and we are definitely convinced that he is awake and listening and reacting," he said.
When doctors performed a series of tests on Mr Peres on Wednesday morning, he was said to have opened his eyes.
Meanwhile Mr Peres's son Chemi thanked the Israeli public for their support. He said: "My father is a special man. I remain optimistic although these are not simple hours.
"It seems that we will soon be required to make decisions but not at the moment. Everything depends, of course, on how things develop."
He added: "I'm optimistic. I'm a great believer in my father. He's a unique person. And I pray with all my heart, together with my family, that things will improve from this point on."
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis tweeted: "The prayers of the Jewish world are with Shimon Peres tonight. We wish him a swift and full recovery."
Mr Peres received good wishes from political friends around the world, including former US president Bill Clinton, who spoke personally to the Peres family, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
