Netanyahu family living well, while Palestinians go hungry

Netanyahu family living well, while Palestinians go hungry
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu lives a life of luxury, as his most recent expense claims attract further scrutiny from the public.
2 min read
16 Mar, 2016
Binyamin and Sara have been accused of living extravagent lives [Getty]

Despite having a personal wealth of around $10 million, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu believes that Israeli taxpayers should subsidise food for Kaya, his pet dog.

The Israeli parliament recently denied a request by the prime minister to bank roll his dog's food, but this is just one in a number of bizarre claims by Netanyahu which highlight his extravagant lifestyle.

Over a quarter of his salary is said to go an armoured car the security-minded leader uses for travelling around the country.

Netanyahu gets a monthly salary of 48,815 shekels ($15,500), but takes home just 17,645 after taxes - which is almost half his salary - and expenses according to the February payroll that he proudly posted on his Twitter account.

Netanyahu is only supposed to work 42.5 hours per week for his handsome salary, and a fraction of the hours other world leaders put in each week.

However, Netanyahu's real expenses are likely to be much higher as the document does not reveals state contributions to the maintenance of his official residence in Jerusalem or the cost of luxury hotels when he travels.

Accusations of extravagance are frequently levied at Netanyahu and his wife Sara.

Late last year, she was questioned by Israeli police on her exorbitant expense claims, and again a week later during a financial probe.

In 2013, the prime minister finally cancelled a $2,565 annual allowance for ice cream. In 2011, he and his wife were thought to have spent $280,000 expenses on cleaning of their residences and $24,000 from the public purse on takeaways.

That is while the occupation of the West Bank and siege of Gaza leads to widespread poverty in the Palestinian territories, while most Palestinians don't get paid more than a few hundred dollars a month.

Malnutrition of children in Gaza under the age of five doubled over the past year, Christian Aid said, due to Israel's blockade.