Netanyahu's Official Residences Cost 2.7 Million Shekels Over 18 Months, Records Reveal

Newly released data from the Prime Minister's Office shows that expenses for Benjamin Netanyahu's official residences in Caesarea and Jerusalem totaled 2.7 million shekels over the past year and a half. In 2025 alone, the costs reached approximately 1.97 million shekels, while the first half of 2026 accounted for 731,081 shekels. This information was disclosed following a Freedom of Information request.

For the first time, the Jerusalem residence on Azza Street was classified as a private home. Detailed expenditures include about 95,000 shekels spent on gardening in Caesarea and an additional 10,000 shekels for preventive root treatment beneath the house. Food expenses amounted to 165,000 shekels, maintenance costs were 42,000 shekels, and electricity bills totaled 31,000 shekels. Other notable expenses included thermostat replacements costing 4,657 shekels and two bathtub replacements in March 2025 and April 2026 at the private residence, totaling roughly 27,000 shekels. Some 63,000 shekels in expenses were blacked out without explanation. Among the charges was a 2,700 shekel order from the food delivery service Wolt in August 2025.

Hidi Negev, CEO of the Freedom of Information Movement, criticized the spending as "lavish policy" and emphasized the need for transparency, especially during times of economic hardship and war. Negev called for proactive publication of such expenses rather than disclosure only after legal action. The data highlights ongoing concerns about public accountability and the use of government funds for official residences.