Barak: Rabin, Sharon also stayed in luxury hotels
Knesset's State Control Committee discusses scathing state comptroller report on Defense Ministry's delegation to Paris Air Show. Defense minister says former PMs Rabin, Sharon stayed in same expensive hotels
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said during the discussion, "This was a failure. I am the person responsible. Only a person who acts can make mistakes."
He noted that the Air Show was important for Israel's defense exports. "The lessons from the report are already being implemented in trips abroad," he added.
"The defense minister has no way to monitor these things. I don't engage in booking hotel rooms. I knew I would be staying in that hotel. It wasn't the first time I stayed there. I have been taking part in heads of state's trips for 15 years. These are the hotels of Israel's foreign ministers and prime ministers. (Former Prime Ministers Ariel) Sharon, (Yitzhak) Shamir, (Yitzhak) Rabin (and Shimon) Peres, (and former Defense Ministers Moshe) Arens (and Yitzhak) Mordechai stayed in the same hotels."
The defense minister said that "this is a serious report, which speaks for itself. It contributes and will contribute to corrections here and in other places. I accept and respect the report and its authors, and believe I should clarify that I am responsible for everything happening in the defense establishment and for this failure.
"I am responsible for these failures not to repeat themselves. The exhibition and the participation in the Air Show have been going on for 50 years and have an important contribution to the security exports, which affect 50,000 households," he added.
"I noticed the failure while in Paris and immediately discussed the matter with the director-general, and a team has been appointed to examine the things which led to these failures and ways of fixing them. Recommendations were formed and presented to the comptroller… I am responsible for this matter and I can only regret this failure."
Barak at State Control Committee meeting (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Defense Ministry Director-General Pinchas Buchris admitted that "it was a procedural failure. We have not waited and decided to implement a report we composed."
Defense Ministry Deputy Director-General Yekutiel Mor said that a new procedure had been formed for approving hotel bookings. Up to now, the ministry's delegation in Paris would approve hotel bookings. From no on, the matter will be handled by Defense Ministry officials in Israel.
In the scathing report, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss criticized the Defense Ministry's expenses at the Paris Air Show, saying that the Israeli delegation's lodging arrangements were particularly high. About one-third of the total expenditure – nearly NIS 1 million (about $266,000) – was not used.
According to the report, Barak stayed in the most expensive hotel in the French capital, which cost about NIS 13,700 ($3,642) a night. "This is a case of faulty behavior by elected representatives and public servants, in times when many are finding it difficult to provide for themselves," the comptroller said in the report.
The defense minister addressed the findings after the report was published, admitting that "this was a clear failure on our part. I take full responsibility for everything that happens in the defense establishment, as well as for this failure."
'Public insensitivity'
Lindenstrauss said during the Knesset discussion, "I got the impression from the report's findings that this was a case of public insensitivity during times of a difficult economic situation. This report and the public resonance of this issue in public opinion show that the public expects the appropriate lessons to be learned."The comptroller spoke about the importance of economizing and strictly guarding the State's funds. "This requires a response, and in this case I agree that it must be harsh," he said.
"It's inappropriate for the taxpayer's money to be used for the privileges of being a ruler. I am aware of the fact that rates have been determined for public servants but not for ministers. This matter must be handled and corrected by the government and Knesset. Elected representatives must voice their opinion on the matter, the sooner the better.
"This is a matter of principles of flawed conduct. I would like to stress two things: Detailed rules have been determined for public servants' trips abroad, while for ministers there is no ceiling for expense refund, and this issue is completely breached.
"A second matter is that the delegation's organization process suffered from a series of failures which led to one-third of the money going down the drain."
The comptroller added, "The accountant general can approve unusual expenses, but they do not apply to the Defense Ministry as it has its own delegations. The custom is that the delegation informs the minister of the favored hotels and the chief of staff selects the hotel.
"About a year ago, the delegation located three suitable hotels. The cheapest hotel cost NIS 9,000 ($2,393) and the most expensive one cost NIS 24,000 ($6,381). The chief of staff chose the most expensive option."
Knesset Member Arieh Eldad (National Union) said, "This wasn't a one-time failure like you are trying to describe. The management circular will not fix the problem. These are values people are educated on. The public feels like this is a luxury cruise and only the tip of the iceberg.
"The Defense Ministry's delegations are infamous for being exaggerated. There are veteran officers who join because "it's their turn". They have nothing in common with the delegation. And then the Defense Ministry's legal advisor comes and explains why there is no money to pay IDF widows who have remarried? Saying that there was no other option but to use this hotel is unrealistic. There are dozens of hotels in Paris."
