Freedom of Information Movement Reveals Israeli Prime Minister's Residence Expenses for 2025-2026

The Freedom of Information Movement published detailed expenses for the Israeli Prime Minister's residences for 2025 and the first half of 2026. According to documents from the Prime Minister's Office, total spending on the residences reached approximately 1.98 million shekels in 2025 and 731,081 shekels in the first half of 2026. For the first time, the private residence on Gaza Street was included in the private residences category alongside the Prime Minister's residence in Caesarea. The official residence on Balfour Street, currently under renovation, was classified as "support apartments."

Expense breakdowns for 2025 included 165,444 shekels on food, 94,957 shekels on gardening at the Caesarea residence, 2,700 shekels on food delivery in August 2025, and 10,590 shekels for preventive root treatment under the Caesarea home. Additionally, 63,033 shekels were blacked out without supplier or expense details. In the first half of 2026, expenses included 53,584 shekels for food, 14,986 shekels to replace a bathtub at the Gaza Street residence, 31,509 shekels paid to the electric company, 42,698 shekels on maintenance and upkeep, and 4,657 shekels for thermostat replacements in Caesarea.

Attorney Hedi Negev, CEO of the Freedom of Information Movement, criticized the spending as "extravagant use of public funds" and emphasized the need for transparency, especially during economic hardship and the ongoing war. The Prime Minister's Office responded by stating that the expenses during Prime Minister Netanyahu's current term are significantly lower than those of previous prime ministers. They cited that during former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's term, regular expenses (excluding personnel and security) totaled about 1.37 million shekels, compared to only 465,319 shekels in the equivalent period under Netanyahu, less than one-third of Bennett's spending.