Israeli Transport Minister Under Fire for Costly Luxury Stay in Morocco

According to information relayed by the Israeli channel i24news.tv, the Israeli Ministry of Transport has requested public funding to cover the accommodation costs of the minister, the director general of her ministry, Moshe Ben Zaken, and her personal assistant. The group is said to have booked suites at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel, where rates range from 1,200 to 3,700 euros per night. The total cost of the trip is estimated at more than 135,000 euros, a sum that has provoked a reaction from the Israeli public.

However, Miri Regev’s office has provided some clarification. "The minister was invited at the expense of the Moroccan government, which covered a welcome package including accommodation, as for the other participating ministers. However, due to security restrictions, the Moroccan government chose other hotels for the minister and the Israeli delegation accompanying her," it said. The exact name of the establishment has not been disclosed.

The office also added that "all additional security-related costs are the responsibility of the Prime Minister’s Office," while insisting that "all other allegations are false and incorrect."

This conference, organized under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), is a continuation of the previous editions, held in Moscow in 2009, Brasilia in 2015 and Stockholm in 2020. It aims to take stock of the progress made under the Global Plan for Road Safety 2021-2030, adopted by the United Nations.