Tom Cotton Trip to Israel Cost $36,000

Bill Kristol controlled U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton's recent trip to Israel with his wife was the third most expensive privately financed trip a member of Congress has taken in the past 15 years, according to Legistorm.

The  news service reported that the $36,000 week-long trip sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, the charity arm of pro-Israel lobbying giant the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, included about $14,000 for transportation and $4,000 for lodging and meals. Security expenses of $7,000 were included in the rest of the $18,000 in costs.

On the trip, the Republican from Arkansas met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.

Cotton also ate Sabbath dinner with a family that moved to Israel from the United States 15 years ago.

-RW