Netanyahu gives up on private-plane ride to Washington

Sep 11, 2020

Facing mounting public criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sept. 11 that he had changed his decision to travel to Washington on Sept. 13 on a private plane. Netanyahu is set to participate in a Sept. 15 signing ceremony at the White House for the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, under the auspices of President Donald Trump.

A statement issued by Netanyahu’s office said, “In order to prevent the media from diverting attention from the historic agreement with the UAE and possibly with other Arab countries as well, the prime minister will fly with the delegation in a more spacious plane, with strict separation arrangements to maintain his health.”

According to publications, Netanyahu, his wife, Sara, and their two sons, Yair and Avner, will fly on the same El Al Boeing 777 flight as the Israeli delegation and Israeli journalists.

Netanyahu had initially planned to fly on a private charter flight from Spain, hired through Israir. His office said the prime minister had been advised by health professionals to fly on a separate plane out of concern that he might contract the coronavirus on the flight. His office had said, “Due to fears that the prime minister could be infected with the coronavirus on a flight with more than 70 people, professional sources instructed the prime minister to fly in a separate plane that the State of Israel uses from time to time.” Associates of Netanyahu added that his family members were to cover their part of the cost; a Channel 12 report said the private flight was expected to be at least $145,000.

Reports about the private plane flight, coming as Israel struggles with an unprecedented economic crisis, generated harsh reactions on social networks and in the media. Opposition leader Yair Lapid tweeted early Sept. 11, “Private plane?! Now? Why a private plane suddenly? People have nothing to eat. There is no limit to the detachment and obtuseness of this man.”