Taxpayers shell out NIS 1.8m for Netanyahu residence in 2015, lowest figure in 7 years

In the past, Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism for spending tens of thousands of shekels on water bills, and items such as scented candles and flowers.

By HERB KEINON
Updated: NOVEMBER 21, 2016 01:51
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to America for the UN General Assembly, September 20, 2016 (photo credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to America for the UN General Assembly, September 20, 2016
(photo credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
The taxpayers paid some NIS 1.84 million for the upkeep of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem and private home in Caesarea in 2015, the lowest figure since Netanyahu took office in 2009.
According to a document released on Sunday by the Prime Minister’s Office, some NIS 285,000 of that sum was spent on Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea, the highest amount spent there since 2012.
At the same time, expenditure on Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem fell some 9% from 2014 to 2015, coming in at NIS 1.54m., compared with NIS 1.68m. in 2014.
In the past, Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism for spending tens of thousands of shekels on water bills and items such as scented candles and flowers. According to the document, expenditures for food and the hosting of official events fell from a peak on NIS 480,000 in 2012 to NIS 363,000 in 2015, though that figure was up 16% from the year before.
Some NIS 22,000 was spent on furniture and gardening costs in 2015, compared with a peak of NIS 318,000 in 2012.
The expenses overall have been on a downward trend since 2013 when the country spent 25% less in housing expenses than the year before. The figure continued to drop in 2014.
The figures peaked in 2012 when the state paid some NIS 5.43m. for the two residences – a dramatic jump from the NIS 1.8m. paid in 2009, when Netanyahu came to power.