Running away from trouble? The Bennett government is flying - and the security unit is collapsing

March 31, 2022   

The ministers of the Bennett-Lapid-Abbas government do not stop flying abroad, and have now reached a new record: 14 trips by government members in two weeks. The 'Walla' website reported that the increase in travel has created an unusual burden in the past two weeks on the 'Megan' security unit in the Prime Minister's Office, which secures the ministers' official flights and visits abroad. At least 13 ministers have been on official trips abroad in the past two weeks, plus a deputy minister. This is almost half of the cabinet ministers, who traveled for a very short and limited period, with each of them assigned a security team from the Magen unit in the Prime Minister's Office. For example, ministers Merav Michaeli, Hili Troper and Elazar Stern each visited the United Arab Emirates separately. Oded Forer, Matan Kahane and Issawi Frij each made separate working trips to the United States. Avigdor Lieberman, Ayelet Shaked and Yoaz Hendel traveled to a conference in London. More flights: Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar flew to Argentina, Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov paid a working visit to Serbia, Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg is in Paris, Public Security Minister Amar Bar Lev visited Jordan, and Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll visited Bahrain in recent days. Government sources told the 'Walla' website: "Magen is collapsing. These are security perimeters at a level not remembered in the last decade." According to them, Magen even raised concerns that in light of the increased travel abroad, the level of security for ministers and the officials they are supposed to protect in Israel will be compromised. The Security and Emergency Division in the Prime Minister's Office responded to Walla by saying: "The Security and Emergency Division in the Prime Minister's Office does not address professional issues related to its work and the treatment of its security personnel. The division stands by and will continue to fulfill its missions." Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri tweeted following the Walla publication: "While Israeli citizens are afraid to leave their homes, as the cost of living and fuel prices continue to break records, the ministers of the flying government are laughing at our expense, from a height of 30,000 feet on the way to the next destination. Disconnected.".