In an embarrassing incident, Tourism Minister (Kadima) Ruchama Avraham-Balila was detained by customs agents at Ben-Gurion International Airport. The minister was returning from a tourism fair in Madrid when agents detected she was entering with a quantity of alcoholic beverages exceeding the limit. The minister explained the bottles represented the combined purchase of her bureau chief and herself.
 
According to the Channel 2 report, Avraham’s bureau chief, Ayelet Etzion purchased the alcohol upon her return a day earlier, and therefore, she was within the permitted limit.
 
A senior customs official apologized to the minister for being detained, for the opening of her luggage and for the story being leaked to the media.
 
Customs agents explain a traveler is permitted to bring one bottle of whiskey and two bottles of wine. Anyone traveling with more and not declaring it upon entry to Israel is subject to a fine in addition to being compelled to pay the tax.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)