Israeli taxpayers foot $45,000 bill for Sara Netanyahu's four-day Washington trip

A March trip by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, to a Washington event for leaders' spouses cost taxpayers about 140,000 shekels (over $45,000), according to data provided by the Prime Minister's Office following a freedom of information request. The total could rise, as Netanyahu has yet to submit a request for reimbursement of her per diem expenses, and the office did not disclose her security costs. The data shows that 75,600 shekels of that sum were direct expenses for Netanyahu herself: $7,015 for the flight, $12,000 for the hotel, $3,150 for vehicles, $1,550 for a photographer, $750 for a hairdresser and $750 for a makeup artist. Netanyahu has not yet submitted a request for an accounting of her per diem (food, drink and lodging) expenses , so the final amount could be higher. The Prime Minister's Office did not disclose Netanyahu's security expenses for the visit, citing security reasons. In addition to these expenses, the Prime Minister's Office reported that members of the delegation spent an additional $2,584 on "hospitality and refreshments," and two other entourage members, besides Netanyahu, received per diem reimbursements totaling 2,230 shekels each. According to the data, the cost of including two entourage members who accompanied her, Lihi Naim and Mor Ashkenazi, amounted to 14,200 shekels each: $1,759 for the flight and $2,985 for the hotel. The cost of including two Education Ministry officials, Merav Zarviv and Omer Zoarets, who participated in a professional panel at the event, totaled 28,500 shekels. The delegation departed on March 23 for a meeting at the U.S. State Department and the White House, returning to Israel four days later. The Prime Minister's Office released the data only after a petition was filed by the Movement for Freedom of Information. Attorney Yaara Winkler-Shalit from the movement criticized the difficulties the Prime Minister's Office created in disclosing the data. "This situation, where information on the use of public funds is revealed only after court intervention, is unacceptable," she said. Close Melania Trump's invitation letter to Sara Netanyahu. Melania Trump's invitation letter to Sara Netanyahu. The Prime Minister's bureau had at the time described Mrs. Netanyahu's trip as an "important diplomatic visit," and has now, as part of the information released following the petition, also revealed the invitation sent by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to Netanyahu for the event. The conference, attended by leaders' wives, focused on the impact of technology on children. Netanyahu spoke at the event, praising her host "for your leadership, for your vision, and for your decision to focus not only on the future generation of America but also on the future of children around the world." Related Articles The sad thing about Netanyahu's corruption: we've gotten used to it Uri Misgav The madness in the Netanyahu household is exposed once again Haaretz Editorial Aliases and unpaid bills: How the Netanyahus worked Israel's healthcare system Uri Misgav Shouting, cursing and assault: Ex-staffer alleges severe abuse by Sara Netanyahu Yael Freidson Later in her speech, Netanyahu presented her work as a professional. "Alongside my role as the wife of Israel's prime minister, I have been working for more than two decades as an expert child psychologist for the city of Jerusalem," she said. "Through my work, I meet children and teenagers in the most critical moments of their lives, through anxiety and ongoing stress, and especially now, during days of war." Netanyahu also mentioned her two sons in her speech. "When I raised my sons, Yair and Avner, I learned that in every generation there are new challenges," she said. "And in my own experience, my children have endured shaming and violence simply because they are the children of the prime minister. We must condemn personal attacks on children in any setting, whether in person or online."