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Last update - 01:10 18/07/2008 Channel 2: Netanyahu broke Knesset ethics rules on flights By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel  Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu has been accumulating El Al frequent flyer miles on official flights and using them for his wife's benefit, Channel 2 will report in tonight's news. If true, this would stand in flagrant violation of the Knesset Ethic Committee guidelines. He used 1,800 points, about $1,000, to subsidize business class flights to Paris for Sarah, Channel 2's Amit Segal claims. Netanyahu has accumulated 10,567 points, which are equal to about NIS 26,000. Contrary to the ethics code, he used 1800 points, worth about $1,000, to pay for his wife Sarah's business class flight to Paris, Channel 2 says. Advertisement The Knesset's ethics code prohibits acceptance of any material benefit for an act inside or outside the Knesset, carried out as part of his duty or position as a member of Knesset. At the beginning of 2007, the Knesset Ethics Committee ruled that frequent flyer miles were a clear perk and completely forbidden to use. Netanyahu, says Segal, has flown since February 2007 five times at the expense of the party that invited him. On all of his flights, Netanyahu flew either first or business class. In most cases, the points were transferred to his frequent flyer's account in El Al, in violation of the ethics code. They are worth the equivalent of seven round-trip tickets to New York and another trip to London (in economy class). On December 10, 2007 MK Netanyahu flew to Paris at the Knesset's expense. His wife flew at the inviting party's expense. When the Ethics Committee refused to approve this, Netanyahu's office asked the family's travel agent to pay for Sarah's ticket in business class by using her husband's frequent flyer miles. Netanyahu's office commented that "frequent flyer miles are automatically accumulated with each El Al flight, and the miles in question were not acquired through any act of Netanyahu's. As soon as Netanyahu was made aware that use had been made of his points for one trip, he gave instructions to rectify the situation. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Farewell ambassador Even the Arab envoys came to say goodbyeto Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman. A tale of two mothers Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.   1.   This is really dumb 23:21  |  Josh 17/07/08   2.   Wow...if this is all you can come up with on BiBi 23:57  |  Jewish State 17/07/08   3.   Bibi and Olmert 01:30  |  Gregor 18/07/08   4.   Nice Try Olmert 02:53  |  Slappy 18/07/08   5.   WHO AUTHORIZED THE FREEDOM OF ADOLF HITLER JR. 03:00  |  NEIL GOLAN 18/07/08   6.   I SUPPOSE THIS WILL BE ANOTHER DIVERSON AWAY FROM MERT`S CRIMES! 06:38  |  glenna 18/07/08   7.   Typical Israeli fare 07:57  |  Steve the Pals. 18/07/08   8.   Knesset ethics is an oxymoron 08:47  |  RHT 18/07/08   9.   ANOTHER TRY BY OLMERT`S LAWYERS? 08:59  |  Dolly 18/07/08   10.   `IF TRUE`... why` have you rejected that Plea Bargain suggested 09:12  |  Natasha 18/07/08   11.   NETANYAHU GET IT TOGETHER !!!!!! 09:14  |  ROBOCOP 18/07/08   12.   Olmert`s Lawyers , or what is left of them..... 09:16  |  justiceforall 18/07/08   13.   OLMERT must be ousted before any more moves by Israel 09:59  |  Dagma 18/07/08   14.   oLMERT WILL DIE tfighting tobe Prime Minister 10:10  |  netta 18/07/08   15.   Netanyau`s supporters 12:08  |  Ivan 19/07/08   16.   Who loses? 02:42  |  Joe 20/07/08   17.   Israeli PM`s = Chronic Corruption 09:22  |  Hassa 20/07/08

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