Post date: May 13, 2013 1:56:26 PM
PM Netanyahu' s cabinet finalises the annual budget amid public anger over government overspending on luxuries, such as in-flight beds and gourmet ice cream.
JERUSALEM (MAY 13, 2013) (REUTERS) - Benjamin Netanyahu is changing his mid-air sleeping arrangements after a public flap over a $127,000 custom-built bedroom for the Israeli prime minister and his wife on a flight to London last month.
Israel's Channel 10 television reported the sum was tagged onto the $300,000 cost of chartering an El Al Boeing 767 that flew the couple and Netanyahu's entourage of aides and bodyguards to former British leader Margaret Thatcher's funeral.News of the extra public expenditure, for a 5-1/2-hour flight, caused an outcry onIsrael's social media and in its mainstream newspapers that coincided with protests over government plans to raise taxes as part of an austerity budget.
Netanyahu's office did not dispute the reported figures. It said he had been unaware of the extra cost of installing the double bed and partition and wanted to arrive fresh for meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the funeral.
The prime minister, it said, was entitled to a good night's sleep on an overnight flight after a busy day. But it added, a sleeping cabin would no longer be installed on his flights to Europe.
A post on Netanyahu's Facebook page contained a link to a website inviting people to sign a petition demanding he pay for the bed out of his own pocket. Nearly 4,000 have signed since Channel 10 first broke the news on Friday.
During a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday (May 13), Netanyahu voiced hope that the government will pass the disputed budget.
"I think the most important thing today is that the government will pass a budget. Today, regarding the national needs of the state of Israel, the global economic crisis, it's important that Israel shows that it passes a budget. The decision on the defence budget will allow us to pass it. We will do it today and there will be a budget at the end of the day for the state of Israel," Netanyahu said.
He voiced hope that a cut of 3 billion shekels in the Israeli defence budget (instead of 4 billion) may prevent harsher cuts that would have been imposed on the public.
We sat down yesterday until very late to discuss the defence budget. I decided to bring to the cabinet, and then to the government, a decision which focuses on easing of the suggested cut in the defence budget, an easing of approximately 1 billion shekels. that will not come on the expense of the public. I want to clarify that the Israeli defence forces, including its commanders, its soldiers and its weapons, are necessary to the security of Israel, both in defence and offense," he said.
Israeli tourism minister Uzi Landau told reporters ahead of the meeting that the budget was an "uphill" battle.
"I see the budget as uphill battle that we will have to bring to a conclusion as soon as we can. We just can't allow ourselves to continue and stay without a budget. And each of us in the cabinet will have to see to it that that his ministry will continue to function properly," Landau said.
Outside the cabinet meeting, protesters gathered to demonstrate against the austerity budget.
"Well, as we see the economic situation, a lot of people put a lot of confidence inYair Lapid, having a lot of hope, he actually abused that hope and now he is going with the rich people, giving more to the rich people and taking from the poor. This is just something that cannot be accepted," said one protester, Tzfira.
The budget issue, as well as Netanyahu's bedroom, touched a particular nerve inIsrael after news earlier this year that the prime minister's office had an annual budget of $2,700 to buy his favourite flavours from a Jerusalem ice cream parlour.
"The things that we've witnessed this year, including the ice cream issue, these are not things that I believe are proper for a prime minister nor for his family," said Noa, a Jerusalem resident.
The reports mentioned a state-financed contract worth 10,000 Israeli shekels for annual ice cream purchases at Netanyahu's official residence.
"To spend so much money on ice cream and a bed on a plane for a five hour flight, which doesn't seem to be a necessity even for comfort really, but it's just, it pains me," said another Jerusalem resident, Ruth.
The prime minister's office cancelled the ice-cream funds just as Netanyahu sought to wrangle lawmakers into passing the austerity-minded budget.
1 U.S. dollar = 3.55 Israeli shekels