About five years ago, one of the largest aviation projects in the country's history began - the heads of state plane, which was named "Wing of Zion".
According to the recommendations of a government committee, the government decided to purchase an aircraft that will be used exclusively by the president and prime minister on their flights abroad, as is customary in most countries of the world.
The aerospace industry was chosen to adapt the purchased aircraft, an old Boeing 767, to the special needs of the leaders' flights.
In addition, unique security and communications components were installed on the "Wing of Zion" so that the Prime Minister could conduct an emergency from the air.
It is estimated that the upgrade of the plane, which cost less than $ 20 million, has cost several hundred million shekels to date, and a few months ago its construction was completed.
The previous prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, did not have time to use the plane, so his successor, Naftali Bennett, was to inaugurate it. ".
Instead, the state will lease an El Al plane for the special flight, as has been the practice in Israel for decades, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.
Prime Minister Bennett, Oren Ben Hakon
The Ministry of Transportation explains that although the physical construction of the aircraft has been completed, its licensing process has not been completed, so Bennett will not be able to use it next week.
However, senior officials in the ministry note that the prime minister's office delayed submitting the required forms and even when some of them were submitted, this was not done correctly - which is why the operation of the plane was delayed for many months.
From an inspection we conducted, the plane is ready to take off in terms of safety and received all the necessary approvals about six months ago - a period during which the Prime Minister's Office could complete the "Wing of Zion" licensing process.
The same officials in the Ministry of Transport explain that the process should take much less time if it is carried out in a professional and correct manner.
"There was some progress but very slow. Some of the forms submitted were incorrect, and the process is delayed just because of that. All this is supposed to be done by the Prime Minister's Office. The plane cannot be used until the process is completed," the same sources said.
In the bottom line, an airplane in which hundreds of millions of shekels have been invested and ready for use will remain grounded.
It should be noted that there is controversy among senior government officials regarding the use of the aircraft.
At the time, Prime Minister Bennett voted in favor of the "Wing of Zion" government.
On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid strongly opposed the project, and still thinks today that the plane should be sold - even if it means the loss of hundreds of millions of shekels.
The Prime Minister's Office said: "The 'Wing of Zion' aircraft is in the process of being licensed with the Airports Authority. Since it is a plane that has been converted and many systems have been installed to adapt it to the Air Force of Prime Ministers and Presidents, licensing procedures for this aircraft take time.
The necessary approvals for its flight and day-to-day operation have not yet been received. "
Ariel Kahana participated in the preparation of the article