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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife have arrived in Hungary, where, according to Channel 12 and the Freedom of Information Movement, they plan to stay for the weekend. This is Netanyahu’s seventh foreign trip during the current term that falls on a weekend – out of nine visits, seven included weekends.
This format of visits raises questions, as the prime minister’s schedule usually does not include official work on weekends. In addition, such trips are usually more expensive due to the additional costs of security, accommodation and escorts. According to Mako, during his visit to Hungary, Netanyahu plans to take a walk along the Danube.
Netanyahu is not the only high-ranking official who chooses foreign routes. Transport Minister Miri Regev will be leaving the country in the coming days. She is planning an extended private visit to the United States during the Passover holiday. This will be her tenth trip abroad since the beginning of her term.
Back in September last year, Channel 12 reported on a wave of official trips by Knesset ministers and members around the world, most of which were funded by taxpayers. In particular, Regev immediately went to Hungary after returning from India, Minister of Negev and Galilee Affairs Yitzhak Waserlauf flew to the UK, and Knesset member Simcha Rotman went to the US.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and security threats at home, such activity by government officials abroad is causing public outrage as a disconnect from reality and a disregard for domestic challenges.
