Knesset Ethics Committee probes Lapid's trip to Italy

The Knesset Ethics Committee is examining opposition leader Yair Lapid’s trip to Italy with his wife and aides, after it was reported that it was paid for by his Yesh Atid Party.

On the trip, Lapid raised eyebrows by meeting with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The meeting, which lasted about three hours, “laid the infrastructure for relations between the countries, and we will continue to cooperate to deepen the common interests and relations between the countries,” he said.

Why should Yair Lapid not have visited the Emirati foreign minister?

As soon as it was reported to have been paid for by Yesh Atid, questions arose as to whether it was allowed.

The rules dictate that such trips are required to go through an approval process by the Ethics Committee.

“The committee’s approval is required prior to the trip,” Ethics Committee chairman Yinon Azoulay (Shas) said. “Currently, I am not aware of a request. As soon as it is submitted, the committee will discuss it similarly to any request.”

Lapid said he had received approval.

The trip drew pushback from Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, whose official capacity is to conduct such meetings.

“There is a government that knows how to conclude agreements, and there is a former foreign minister who knows how to take pictures,” he said.

“We promise to conclude more agreements so that Lapid will have more people to take pictures with.”