Report: Maintenance for PM’s private, official homes cost state NIS 2 million in 2023
Funds said to include NIS 1.4 million for service staff, NIS 22,000 to maintain private pool; security costs for Netanyahu’s sons Yair and Avner reach NIS 21.5 million
Maintenance expenses for the prime minister’s official and private residences totaled NIS 2 million ($550,000) for 2023, a figure that excludes security, construction and other key costs, according to a report Thursday.
The figure included NIS 1.4 million ($380,000) for service staff at the official residence in Jerusalem, NIS 65,000 ($18,000) for gardening and NIS 11,000 ($3,000) for kitchen utensils, in addition to funds spent on food deliveries and internet services, according to a report by the Kan public broadcaster.
Another NS 22,000 ($6,000) was paid to maintain the pool at the premier’s private residence in Caesarea and NIS 35,000 ($9,600) was used for petty cash.
After he returned to his role as prime minister at the end of 2022, Netanyahu’s private residence on Azza Street in Jerusalem temporarily became the official residence while renovations have been taking place at the formal Balfour Street residence.
The prime minister has often been criticized for what is perceived as excessive spending on a lavish lifestyle.
His wife Sara has also long faced allegations of extravagant living, and state comptroller reports have found she repeatedly tried to get funding for the couple’s private residence, including one instance when she purchased furniture, apparently for the official residence in Jerusalem, and then moved it to the family’s private residence in Caesarea, while older furniture was taken from Caesarea to the residence in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, the Freedom of Information Department in the PMO said Wednesday that the state has paid NIS 21.5 million ($5.9 million) in security expenses for Netanyahu’s two adult sons Yair (NIS 10.2 million, or $2.8 million) and Avner (NIS 11.4 million, or $3.1 million) from 2018 to 2023. Security for Netanyahu’s wife Sara cost NIS 10.65 million ($2.9 million) in the five-year period.
Netanyahu’s family members recently received an extension of their security coverage from the Shin Bet security agency, despite a recommendation from the Advisory Committee for Personal Security that it be extended by only six months or until the end of the ongoing war, the Ynet news outlet reported earlier this month.
In particular, the security agency noted that Yair Netanyahu has primarily resided abroad in Miami since March 2023, and therefore doesn’t need the same high-level security detail as he would were he in Israel. In June, Yair drew ire after he was photographed on a backpacking vacation in Guatemala with two Shin Bet security guards in tow.
The recommendation said the security details would be transferred to the Magen security agency after the period lapses, which operates under the Prime Minister’s Office, and provides security to government ministers. The Shin Bet’s Personal Security Unit generally only covers the president and the prime minister.
Noa Roth, Netanyahu’s only child from his first marriage, does not receive Shin Bet protection.
The data by the PMO was released in response to a petition by the Hatzlacha Association for a Fair Society.
The report also released data on expenses for the families of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid during their periods as prime minister.
From 2021 to 2022, security for Bennett’s wife Gilat cost some NIS 3.8 million ($1 million), while NIS 3 million ($800,000) was paid to guard Bennett’s four children, who are regarded as one unit according to the data.
While her husband was prime minister from July to December 2022, the cost of protecting Lihi Lapid reached NIS 1 million ($270,000).
Sensitive information regarding the security threats faced by the relatives of the prime ministers was censored.
The Times of Israel Community.