Lunch with Sheldon Adelson, meetings with Ron Lauder, former Defense Minister Ehud Barak and former minister Dan Meridor, and an almost daily visit to the gym - this is what emerges from the meeting diaries of the chairman of the Jewish Home, Naftali Bennett.
After receiving harsh criticism for not submitting his diaries, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett is revealing his meeting diaries today (Wednesday). Bennett also serves as Minister of Religious and Diaspora Affairs.
Bennett's 2013 meeting schedule obtained by the Freedom of Information Movement shows that in April, Bennett met with the agency's chairman, Natan Sharansky. A few weeks later, it became clear that Bennett was promoting Sharansky's election for president of the state. Another meeting took place between the two in August.
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A look at the diary reveals that at the beginning of the term, Bennett made sure to meet with "brother", Yair Lapid, frequently, as well as with Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman. As time passes, the meetings with the two become fewer. A particularly interesting meeting appears in Bennett's diary in April, when the three met together. The economy minister also met with Moshe Leon, Lieberman's candidate for mayor of Jerusalem.
The Minister of Economy, it turns out, keeps himself in pretty good shape. He doesn't miss out on time to the gym, whether it's in the afternoon or early evening, almost every day. Quality time with his family is also not missing from his schedule.
For example, the diary mentions a "date" with his wife Gilat, and on another occasion a note appears: "Leaving the Knesset at seven! Family Tel Aviv.".
Bennett did not neglect his friends from the army either and met with them for a "Giora Obligatory Team Trip" (a trip for the team from military service).
Bennett's schedule includes many "blackouts," meaning meetings that the minister does not wish to reveal to the public, except for a meeting with Mossad head Tamir Pardo, which appears openly. The Minister of Economic Affairs also did not miss any photo opportunities: after he was in Kirya, the schedule includes a "stop at Cofix for fifteen minutes.".
