Netanyahu family seeks continued state funding for home projects
The Netanyahu family has requested that the state continue funding security and renovation work at their private residences even after the prime minister leaves office.
By Marina Weber ·
The family of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested that the state continue financing significant security and renovation projects at their private homes, even if the prime minister steps down from office. This development was revealed in a report published by Channel 13 on Wednesday, which described the appeal as urgent.
According to the report, the family appealed to the ministerial committee responsible for overseeing the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. The specific request was that work which has already been initiated at the properties in recent years should not be halted if Netanyahu is no longer serving as prime minister.
Sources familiar with the internal discussions told Channel 13 that the request was advanced on behalf of Sara Netanyahu. The individuals identified as leading the effort were Ido Norden, the Chief of Staff for the Prime Minister’s Office, and Dorit Steinmetz, the Deputy Director-General. If the committee approves the request, the state could be liable for costs amounting to tens of millions of shekels.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not provide a response to the media report regarding the specific appeal or the ongoing negotiations.
Spending on the Netanyahu residences has been a subject of public scrutiny for some time. Data released in response to a freedom of information request indicated that the state spent more than NIS 2.7 million, equivalent to approximately $880,000, on the prime minister’s three residences during 2025 and the first half of 2026.
This expenditure covered various operational and maintenance needs, including staff costs, renovations, landscaping, and food expenses. The family primarily utilized their private homes located on Azza Street in Jerusalem and in the coastal city of Caesarea. Meanwhile, the official residence on Balfour Street underwent extensive renovation work during the same period.
The Caesarea property has previously incurred substantial costs for security upgrades. After a Hezbollah drone struck the home in October 2024, the Prime Minister’s Office sought NIS 2 million, or roughly $630,000, for additional security measures. Other estimates placed the total cost of these upgrades between NIS 3 million and NIS 8 million, a range that translates to between $940,000 and $2.5 million.
The current request highlights the ongoing debate regarding the extent of state resources allocated to the personal residences of high-ranking officials, particularly when those officials may no longer hold their positions.
