MKs have been enticed by the availability of electronic gadgets, with some inquiring if the budget allocations to assist them in remaining in touch with voters permits them to purchase an iPhone of iPad.

The decision announced permits an MK to purchase an iPad computer, but it must be in place of one of three computers s/he is permitted to buy and not in addition to them. One purchasing an iPhone will not have to give up anything in the current budget.

MKs receive NIS 49,000 annually to ‘keep in touch with voters’. In addition, they receive NIS 19,000 to rent an office outside Knesset.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)