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Its people have just been hit with a stark austerity budget that proposes \u00a34.5billion spending cuts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n But Israel’s prime minister doesn’t seem to have heard the news as he’s doubled his expenses, spending \u00a3975,000 on luxuries such as hairdressers and shoes.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Benjamin Netanyahu’s household expenses were revealed after the Movement for Freedom of Information demanded his office release the details of his costs.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n His taxpayer-funded spending on food and hospitality went from \u00a339,000 in 2009 to \u00a388,000 in 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n An increase that will no doubt enrage Israeli citizens was under ‘representation expenses’ \u2013 which included \u00a311,700 being spent on his wardrobe, shoes, make-up and hair treatment, The Daily Telegraph reported. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Another 318,000 shekels – or \u00a357,287 – were spent on the prime minister’s family’s private villa in the exclusive Caesarea, a coastal resort, The Independent reported.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Details of his lavish spending came after his government approved an unpopular austerity budget which will raise taxes and cut public spending in order to tackle 7bn deficit in 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Demonstrations across Israeli cities were held at the weekend to oppose the tough measures, the Guardian reported.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The prime minister’s office issued a statement about the figures, saying they included ‘the expenses for official events held in [Mr Netanyahu’s] home and working expenses for the many meetings held there.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>Earlier this year he was forced to cancel a state contract when it was revealed that he was spending \u00a31,700 a year of taxpayer money for his favorite ice cream. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>It follows an embarrassing incident where the prime minister spent \u00a383,000 having a double bed to be installed on a plane that carried him and his wife, Sara, to Baroness Thatcher’s funeral in London in April, to make the journey more comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>He will now make alternative travel arrangements after his ‘rest chamber’ was slammed for being extravagant, the BBC reported.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>The revelations come Israel celebrated its Independence Day – Yom Ha’Atzmaut – and this year marked the 65th anniversary of the nation’s independence on April 15 and 16.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n