Bennett said to have sought ex-PM conditions despite not being eligible

Naftali Bennett reportedly sought to receive financial conditions reserved for former prime ministers even though they are not available to those who served in the position for less than 18 months, but his successor as premier Yair Lapid refused.

The benefits include a driver, a two-person team, budget for an office, security, income tax exemption and burial at the Great Leaders of the Nation section of Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl cemetery.

Bennett had already drafted a request to change the law so that the benefits will be available to prime ministers who served 12 months, Channel 12 reports, adding that Lapid refused because it would be a law aimed at benefiting a specific individual. Bennett subsequently nixed his plan to file the request.

Bennett’s office says he canceled his request because he already has an office as alternate prime minister.

Lapid’s office merely comments that the ties between him and Bennett are good and that they are continuing to work together.