Israeli Lawmakers' Four-Year Term to Cost Over $250 Million
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
The 120 members of Israel's Knesset will cost the state approximately 1 billion shekels over their four-year term, averaging 9 million shekels per lawmaker. This includes salaries, benefits, and allowances, with individual upkeep estimated at 2.25 million shekels annually. Benefits cover official vehicles, housing assistance in Jerusalem, parliamentary assistants, office expenses, and public relations budgets. The total cost does not include potential additions from the "Norwegian Law" or inflation adjustments.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's 120 Knesset members will cost the state 1 billion shekels over their four-year term.
- Each lawmaker's upkeep is estimated at 9 million shekels total, or 2.25 million shekels annually.
- Benefits include official vehicles valued up to 350,000 shekels and transportation reimbursements.
- MKs living far from Jerusalem can receive housing assistance or hotel stays in the capital.
- Each MK has a public relations budget of over 110,000 shekels annually.
- Parliamentary assistants are state employees paid directly from the Knesset budget.
The 120 members of the Knesset, who were sworn in two days ago, will collectively cost the state approximately 1 billion shekels (about $270 million) over their four-year term, averaging 9 million shekels per lawmaker. This figure, reported by Ynet on November 12, includes salaries, benefits, and allowances, with each MK's upkeep estimated at 2.25 million shekels annually. This total does not account for MKs who may enter parliament via the "Norwegian Law" or for inflation adjustments made each calendar year.
Basic monthly gross salary for a regular MK is 52,147 shekels, with a 2.4% raise implemented in January 2026. Higher positions receive more: committee chairs and deputy Knesset speakers earn 54,767 shekels, the opposition leader 58,365 shekels, and the Knesset speaker 64,899 shekels. While budgetary pensions were abolished in 2003, contributions to cumulative pension funds and professional development funds are still made, amounting to thousands of shekels monthly.
Each MK is entitled to a leased official vehicle valued up to 350,000 shekels, typically a Skoda Superb or similar SUV. Additionally, they receive a fuel card or full reimbursement for transportation costs, including insurance and maintenance, averaging 5,500 to 6,000 shekels per month. MKs living more than 50 kilometers from Jerusalem can claim hotel stays on parliamentary days or up to 5,033 shekels monthly for apartment rental in the capital.
MKs also have personal offices within the Knesset, with maintenance costs running into thousands of shekels annually, and furniture updates costing tens of thousands. Each MK is allocated three parliamentary assistants (four for committee chairs), who are state employees paid directly from the Knesset budget. Their salaries range from 9,800 to 14,200 shekels gross monthly, depending on their role and hours. The Knesset also covers expenses for computers, mobile phones, and other communication devices, totaling thousands of shekels per year.
Furthermore, MKs have an annual public relations budget of 110,795 shekels, with an additional 12,008 shekels for new MKs in their first year. These funds can be used for advertising, social media promotion, strategic consulting, printed materials, legal advice, website development, and events. Other benefits include an annual clothing allowance of 5,147 shekels, newspaper subscriptions, an annual medical check-up costing about 1,800 shekels, foreign language study up to 4,800 shekels annually, and communication expenses totaling around 20,000 shekels per year.
