Israel Matzav

Why Netanyahu didn't go to South Africa

Prime Minister Netanyahu is being criticized here in Israel for saying it was too expensive for him to fly to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's funeral. The number I heard bandied about was $7 million, and that iss a lot of money.

On Israel Radio this morning, they interviewed a former Israeli ambassador to South Africa, who said that while protocol would call for Netanyahu to go, the reality is that support for the 'Palestinians' is a domestic - rather than foreign - policy issue in South Africa, that there is no hope of it changing, and that if Netanyahu showed up, he would be be treated to all the proper protocol by a country that is just going through the motions.

Compare that with King Hussein. Obama that is.

President Barack Obama’s expected 10-minute speech at Nelson Mandela’s memorial will cost taxpayers at least $500,000 per minute.

That’s not counting any cakes and coffee he and his inner circle consume aboard Air Force One during the 18,000-mile round trip to Johannesburg, via Dakar, in Senegal.

The 28-hour two-way flight will cost $5 million because the four-engined Boeing 747 costs roughly $180,000 an hour to operate, according to a May 2012 report by the Congressional Research Service.

The cost includes jet fuel and subsequent maintenance of the aircraft’s engines, electronics and hotel-class facilities.

Obama has been accompanied by the First Lady, Attorney General Eric Holder, national security advisor Susan Rice and confidante Valerie Jarrett.

However, Obama will get numerous free mementoes of his trip , including photographs of him telling the world’s dignitaries his personal feelings Mandela’s legacy and how it affected his own world-historic life.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Eric Holder, Michelle Obama, South Africa, Valerie Jarrett

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:47 PM