Israeli PM's Office Spent Over $100,000 on Doctors' Travel Since 2013

The Prime Minister's Office has disclosed that approximately 333,000 shekels were spent on medical services for doctors accompanying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on foreign trips since 2013. This figure covers contracts and per diem expenses for food and lodging. An additional 53,000 shekels were spent on flights, bringing the total expenditure to 386,000 shekels. The information was released on Tuesday, November 10, by the Movement for Freedom of Information, following a request submitted to the Prime Minister's Office, which provided the details for the first time.

The most expensive year for these medical services was 2025, with expenditures reaching about 170,000 shekels. The head of the medical team, Dr. Herman Berkovich, receives an annual salary of 30,000 shekels plus VAT and insurance reimbursement. In comparison, the medical staff for former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid received a total of 21,000 shekels during their government's term.

Until 2023, a dedicated medical team did not accompany the Prime Minister on flights; only a doctor and a paramedic from Unit 730 were present. Since early 2023, a medical team led by Dr. Berkovich, including two cardiologists, a urologist, and a pacemaker technician, has been traveling with the Prime Minister. Dr. Berkovich's contract began on January 1, 2023, costing 2,500 shekels per month plus VAT, totaling 30,000 shekels annually, along with insurance reimbursements.

Other medical personnel who traveled include pacemaker technician Hen Kabesa, who flew twice in September 2023; cardiologist Dr. Zvi Sirotkin, who accompanied the Prime Minister three times between September 2023 and September 2024; cardiologist Dr. Eyal Heller, who joined in February 2025 and traveled six times until February 2026; and urologist Dr. Mordechai Duvdevani, who traveled three times in 2025.

The most costly single trip was Dr. Sirotkin's to New York in September 2023, costing 22,313 shekels for the contract and 26,573 shekels for accommodation. Flights for the medical team members were covered by the Prime Minister's Office, at approximately $1,200 per doctor round trip, totaling $16,800. The total for 14 trips, excluding flights, was 333,264 shekels, with 2025 being the highest expenditure year at 170,335 shekels.

Heidi Negev, Director General of the Movement for Freedom of Information, commented that the Prime Minister's Office should be more transparent, especially given Netanyahu's age and the lack of a permanent deputy. She advocated for all prime ministerial candidates to release independent statements on their physical and cognitive fitness for office.