Knesset State Audit Committee Reviews High Costs of PM Netanyahu's USA Flight

During a discussion held by the Knesset State Audit Committee regarding the State Comptroller's report on the purchase of the "Kenaf Zion" plane, it was revealed that the cost of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent flight to the USA reached $520,000, approximately 2 million NIS. This information was provided by Lt. Col. Eitan Lial, the director of the aircraft system in the Prime Minister's Office.

Lt. Col. Lial explained that the cost of Netanyahu's flight to Florida to meet former President Donald Trump amounted to $73,000 (about 300,000 NIS). He noted that if the unplanned addition of the flight to Florida were excluded, the entire cost would have been $447,000. Additionally, he highlighted that El Al had demanded $980,000 for a similar flight, indicating that the cost of using the Kenaf Zion plane was less than half the price.

Lial emphasized the operational advantages of the Kenaf Zion plane, stating that there was continuous communication throughout the flight, enabling the Prime Minister to stay in contact with all system heads. He praised the execution of the last flight, noting that the Prime Minister and his senior staff held extensive discussions during most of the flight hours, utilizing the plane's communication systems without disruption.

Fixed and Variable Maintenance Costs

In response to a question from committee chairman MK Miki Levy (Yesh Atid), Lial mentioned that a fixed component of 900,000 NIS is paid monthly to the aerospace industry for maintenance, irrespective of the aircraft's activity. The variable component, which includes training or tasks as needed, is higher. He also stated that the plane's insurance costs $700,000 per year, and the Prime Minister's office plans to seek lower insurance rates in the future.

Project Budget and Allocation

The government allocated nearly 800 million NIS for the Kenaf Zion project, with 588 million NIS designated for the purchase, conversion, and five-year operation of the aircraft. Tami Rodich, head of the aircraft and transportation division at the Ministry of Defense, explained that maintenance costs are 47 million NIS over five years, averaging 8.1 million NIS per year. Variable expenses for the flights themselves are budgeted at 77.3 million NIS over five years.

Rodich outlined the challenges faced in procuring the aircraft, noting that while the Ministry of Defense is experienced in purchasing planes for the IDF, this civilian plane is flown by Air Force pilots according to Air Force standards, rather than Civil Aviation Authority instructions.

Call for a Detailed Cost Report

MK Miki Levy demanded that the Ministry of Finance representatives provide an official document detailing all costs associated with the plane from the moment the purchase decision was made. He noted that the political and security cabinet had approved a spending framework of 729 million NIS for the project in the summer of 2014.