Netanyahu Residence Security Upgrades Cost 127 Million Shekels
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Security upgrades for the Prime Minister's residences have cost 127 million shekels between 2023 and 2026, a figure revealed after a legal petition. The spending saw a sharp increase, attributed by the Prime Minister's Office to heightened security threats. A court is now considering whether to compel the disclosure of costs for individual residences, despite security concerns raised by officials.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister's residences security projects cost 127 million shekels from 2023 to 2026.
- Spending increased significantly, reaching a peak of 72.5 million shekels in 2025.
- The Prime Minister's Office cites increased security threats for the spending surge.
- A community association is seeking a breakdown of costs for each residence.
- Officials fear releasing detailed figures could compromise security measures.
- A judge has ordered the office to provide more data on the expenditures.
Security projects at the Prime Minister's residences have incurred costs of 127 million shekels between 2023 and 2026, according to data revealed following a petition by the Giv'at Mordechai Community Association. The figures show a significant increase, from 10.9 million shekels in 2023 to 27.8 million in 2024, peaking at 72.5 million in 2025, and adding another 16.2 million by October 2026.
The Prime Minister's Office attributes the surge to heightened security threats and the need for enhanced protection, citing a drone attack on Benjamin Netanyahu's Caesarea home in 2024 as an example. This spending comes under scrutiny given Netanyahu's past criticism of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for allegedly spending 50 million shekels on his private home in Ra'anana.
The association is demanding a breakdown of costs for each residence: the official Jerusalem residence, the alternative residence on Gaza Street, and the private home in Caesarea. The Prime Minister's Office opposes this, fearing that revealing the specific security measures could aid hostile elements in assessing protection levels. Deputy Director of Security Alon Halva warned that combining investment figures with other information could highlight security disparities between the residences.
However, the association's chairman, Kobi Eisen, argues that the public has a right to know how its money is spent, especially in light of Netanyahu's previous criticisms. Judge Arnon Darel has ordered the office to provide more data, including a breakdown between public and private residences across different periods and governments. A further hearing is scheduled for Sunday, where a decision on the data's disclosure is expected.
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