Israeli journalist and blogger Tomer Avital has launched a storm with the publication of data detailing how government agencies and their affiliates spend taxpayer funds. One of the more impressive listings was the Ministry of Education, headed by Minister of Education (Yesh Atid) Shai Prion.
One of the most impressive expenses of the ministry is its outlay on computers and accessories. One should remember this is one of the largest offices in the government network and it operates under direct supervision and funding of the treasury, which is headed by Minister of Finance (Yesh Atid) Yair Lapid.
The computer office of the ministry spend 110,852,185 shekels, which was used to buy hundreds of desktop and laptop computers, and dozens of iPods and tablet computers for senior ministry personnel. Tens of thousands of shekels were spent to repair broken computers. Some of the payments were made to the high-tech giants including Microsoft, HP, and IBM and funds were also allocated for service contract for ministry servers and “strategic advisors on computers”.
Millions allocated for gadgets and food
While every ministry is expected to spend, this ministry leads the list, having spent millions of shekels on producing different events, some not itemized in the accounting. The latter would include millions spent on light refreshments and food at events, with the ministry dealing with no less than 11 different suppliers, most in Yerushalayim.
Communications expenses are impressive as well
One might say the ministry is not misery when it comes to expenses for communications. During the first four months of 2013, the ministry paid the Pelephone cellular telephone company 5,110,567 for being online. This was for four months only! Bezeq was not forgotten, earning 3,452,868 from the ministry for the first half year. 50,000 shekels were paid to for internet services during the same time period.
Being the dedicated workers they are, cellular phone service and internet connectivity do not appear to be sufficient as HOT Cable TV was paid 37,959 for TV hook ups and its daughter company HOT Mobile received an additional 14,657 shekels for MIRS communications devices for security personnel.
What are they saying about us?
It appears senior ministry personnel are extremely concerned with what is being reported and written about them. The ministry paid Yifat Merkaz L’Meida Tikshorti, which collects information from the print media, the amount of 699,999 shekels for its services in 2014. (It should be pointed out that other government ministries pay this firm for the same service too).
Other expenditures
There are many other expenses that may elicit the ire of taxpayers, including one million shekels to host the Barcelona Soccer Club last year. The education budget paid for that event.
There are also travel expenses, which includes one visit for the minister to the USA which cost taxpayers 106,622 shekels. This covered airfare and hotels for the minister and his entourage. Not to discriminate, money was also spent for hotels in Israel in 2013, including over 40,000 shekels for high end hotels in Yerushalayim.
There is more, including a special seat that was installed in the minister’s vehicle at his behest. The Asfir Company, http://www.asfir.co.il/ which provides luxury and specialty seats for vehicles was called in and a seat was installed at the cost of 15,033 shekels. In addition, a refrigerator was installed in the vehicle at a cost of 5,465 shekels. (Most Yesh Atid cabinet minister opted for the refrigerator in their vehicle as well).
In the 2013 budget the minster paid to have five performers for a private event, with at least hosted in his home. Singer Yishai Lapidot performed in the minister’s house during a “l’chaim” in his home to toast the new year. That performance cost 5,310 shekels. In addition to that event, the minister paid out 17,400 for three addition pre-new year ‘l’chaim’ events 2013. There was also a payment of 53,615 shekels for four Sephardi payitanim despite the fact not all of the events that were scheduled actually took place. The ministry also paid 2,478 shekels for a private showing of movie Stissel and a meeting with one of the actors.
A year ago the minister decided to determine if his office was bugged, spending 7,599 shekels for an inspection to uncover eavesdropping devices. He also installed new trissim (shades) in his home, with the ministry paying 49,386 shekels. Minister Piron also spent 27,230 shekels for furniture for his office.
Car costs and expenses
Ministry expenses in this area were impressive as well. The Ministry of Education paid the Pazomat Company 2,352,999 shekels for gas and washing of ministry vehicles in 2013. The amount also included surcharges for driving too many kilometers on some of the ministry’s leased fleet, exceeding the contract, and for servicing vehicles.
The items mentioned in the report cover a portion of the expenses revealed with many scratching their heads asking why government funding must pay for some of the items mentioned and who justifies the expenditures.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
COMPUTER expenses are #1 costs in most schools including yeshivos in NYC.
Smart boards, computer files & records even report cards are computer based, presently. The state allots huge amounts of monies to Yeshivos for teaching, implementing and using computer software. Is the money going for those needs? Beats me!!
Most yeshiva students still have not had any basic training in computer use…so where oh where are the bucks being spent? Noticed that the ‘newest trend’ is not to give boys text books rather copy pages being used,,, so where oh where are the state funds for text books going???