Israeli President Shimon Peres collapsed on Saturday night during an event in Tel Aviv, and he recovered shortly after.

Israel's President Shimon Peres speaks during a meeting with a delegation of Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives in Jerusalem August 10, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters File Photo]

The 86-year-old president was attending an event with young business executives at the Rabin Center, and he fainted while answering questions from the audience, reported local news service Ynet.

He regained consciousness a few seconds later and then was taken to hospital for examination and further treatment, although the president refused to go to hospital initially.

A source from hospital said Peres was in good condition after the incident, according to Ynet.

"I feel fine, why did you come to the hospital? Go back to your children," Ha'aretz quoted Peres as saying to his aids.

Peres has kept a busy schedule for meeting with foreign officials and attending domestic events since becoming Israel's ninth president in 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2009)