One must admire the chutzpah of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who when called before the Knesset Audit Committee to explain his NIS 20,000 a night suite in a Paris hotel explained “Rabin, Peres and Shamir did it too”.

Barak did tell committee members that he accepts responsibility for everything that takes place in the Defense Ministry, including the delegation’s expenses attending the Paris Air Show, but added in all fairness, this is not something the defense minister is able to track and monitor.

He explained that he has taken part in official state delegations for some 25 years, and this was not the first time officials lodged in the hotel in question. He explained that in the past, Prime Ministers Sharon, Peres, Rabin and Shamir, along with Defense Ministers Arens and Mordechai all stayed in the hotel. While the matter is a serious one explained the minister, “we must keep things in proportion”.

State Comptroller Justice Micha Lindenstrauss expressed outrage over the fact that Barak’s delegation spent over NIS 1 million to attend the air show, especially during these difficult economic times.

While the experience was less than pleasant for Barak, it is highly unlikely that any actions will be taken against him.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)