The May report published by Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs sheds light on Israeli government ministers' fondness for flying around the world. In just one month, 13 ministers flew to 21 different destinations, all without the parade in New York celebrating the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel, which was not included in it, to which many government representatives flew.
Ben Gurion Airport. Airlift of government ministers in May, photo: Moshe Shai
The list stating that all the ministers flew "in the affairs of their ministry" lists the ministers' flights abroad. According to the report, in May,Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Ofir Akunisflew to Italy.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. Naturally, a leader in flights abroad, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Naturally, the carrier of the flights isForeign Minister Eli Cohen, who flies to Belgium, India, Sweden, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. Economy Minister Nir Barkatflew to Morocco andDefense Minister Galantflew to Cyprus and Greece.
Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermerflew to the United Arab Emirates, whileEducation Minister Yoav Kischflew to Britain. Information Minister Galit Distal Atabrianflew to Spain, andTourism Minister Haim Katzflew to the United States.
MK Distel-Atabrian. Visited Spain "on the affairs of her office", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
MK Idit Silman. The Minister of Environmental Protection flies to Morocco, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Intelligence Minister Gila Gamlielflew to the United States andDiaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Shikliflew to Spain and France. Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silmanflew to Morocco, as didHeritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu. Minister of the Interior and Health Moshe Arbelflew to Azerbaijan for a state visit with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
It should be noted that the interim government at the time, headed by Yair Lapid, also broke records for flights abroad. In October 2022, 14 government ministers flew to 19 different destinations abroad – three times the rate at which ministers flew during the Bennett government until January of that year.
These flights included political visits by the prime minister, security visits by the defense minister, and participation in a Jerusalem Post conference. This is no small expense from the state coffers: on every such official visit, some ministers are accompanied by an entourage of aides and security guards, each minister according to security needs or according to the nature of the visit.
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