After flying bed scandal, state comptroller to probe expenses
Yosef Shapira says clearer rules are needed on use of taxpayer money by public figures
Aaron Kalman is a former writer and breaking news editor for the Times of Israel
State Comptroller Yosef Shapira announced Wednesday he’d investigate the use of public funds to cover the expenses of public figures.
The decision was made following widespread public criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand to install a special bed on his flight to London last month, at the cost of $127,000, and reports that spending in the official residences of the prime minister and president have grown drastically in recent years.
Shapira’s decision came in response to calls from a number of legislators as well as the Movement for the Quality of Government in Israel.
Shapira is also to investigate the background of Netanyahu’s driver joining him on an official trip to China at the start of May. The fact that he’s not a member of the team that usually escorts the prime minister’s family overseas indicated a possibility of the trip being granted to him as a special benefit, Shapira said.
The state comptroller said the allocation of state funds for the use of public figures needed clear, transparent guidelines and regulations. A discussion would be held on the matter next week, he announced.
Netanyahu’s household spending nearly doubled since 2009, growing by 80 percent to some NIS 5.4 million ($1.5m.) in 2012, the state revealed last week.
Spending on food and official hospitality jumped 117% to some NIS 480,000 ($133,000) during Netanyahu’s previous term in office (2009-2012), while cleaning expenses grew by 118% to NIS 1.2 million ($332,000). While most of the money went toward the upkeep of Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem, in 2012 some NIS 318,000 ($88,000) in public funds were spent on Netanyahu’s personal villa in Caesarea.
The total cost of maintaining the position and functions of President Shimon Peres has steadily increased in recent years and is now three times as much as in 2000.
In 2012 the total expenses of the President’s Residence reached NIS 62.7 million ($17.19 million), compared to NIS 42.5 million ($11.65 million) in 2011 and just NIS 38.6 million ($10.54 million) in 2010.
