Knesset Lawmakers Enjoy Extensive Salaries and Benefits Package
Lawmakers in the 26th Knesset receive comprehensive salaries and benefits, bringing the annual cost per member to nearly two million shekels, including vehicle leases, communication budgets, and housing allowances.
Members of the 26th Knesset are entitled to an extensive package of salaries, benefits, and allowances, with the annual cost per lawmaker reaching approximately two million shekels, according to data released on parliamentary expenses.
The base monthly salary for a Knesset member stands at 52,147 shekels gross. Committee chairpersons and deputy speakers earn 54,767 shekels gross per month, while the opposition leader receives 58,365 shekels. The Speaker of the Knesset draws the highest parliamentary salary at 64,899 shekels gross per month.
Comprehensive Allowances and Perks
In addition to their monthly wages, lawmakers receive an annual clothing allowance of 5,147 shekels. They are also allocated roughly 111,000 shekels annually for public communication via a Cal credit card provided by the Knesset. This budget can be used to purchase up to four laptops for lawmakers and their aides, up to four mobile phones, professional services such as strategic and media consulting, legal expenses tied to public duties, management of social media accounts, and lodging for professional conferences held at least 150 kilometers from a lawmaker's home outside Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the budget covers non-partisan conferences, including up to 5,000 shekels for artistic programming within the Knesset building, as well as lecturers, catering, and sound equipment for events held elsewhere. Lawmakers are also provided with a leased vehicle—typically a Skoda Superb, SUV, or minivan—with fully covered fuel expenses, subscriptions to two daily newspapers, comprehensive annual medical examinations costing around 1,800 shekels, and up to 4,800 shekels annually for foreign language lessons.
Housing and Staffing Provisions
Parliamentarians residing more than 50 kilometers from Jerusalem are entitled to hotel expense coverage in the capital on Mondays and Tuesdays when the Knesset is in session. Alternatively, those who prefer to rent an apartment in Jerusalem receive a reimbursement of up to 5,000 shekels per month.
On the staffing front, each lawmaker is permitted to employ up to three parliamentary aides, while committee heads are entitled to four. Finally, outgoing members are eligible for a 1,200-shekel contribution from the Knesset toward pension consulting services.
