Netanyahu's double bed on plane to cost $310,000

Foreign airlines seek legal changes before returning to Israel

The Prime Minister's reluctance to make do with first class seats will cost the taxpayer dear.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bureau is requesting that a double bed be installed on the plane taking him to France and Canada this week. Netanyahu and his wife Sara will travel to Paris on later this week for the official ceremony in which Israel will be accepted as an OECD member, and then on to Canada for a state visit.

Netanyahu and his wife are reluctant to make do with the first class seats that prime ministers have previously sat back on. As a result the government will be forced to charter a wide bodies Boeing 767 jet, instead of the usual narrower Boeing 757 model.

This will cost the Israeli taxpayer an extra $310,000.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 24, 2010