JERUSALEM, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Monday announced an increase of over 42 percent in the security budget for protecting its delegation to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, its Sports Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry noted that the increase is in response to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the rising threats to Israeli targets worldwide due to the fighting.
The updated amount allocated to the protection of the Israeli delegation will therefore be 5 million shekels (1.37 million U.S. dollars) instead of 3.5 million shekels.
It was agreed in a security preparation meeting attended by the heads of the unit for dignitary and delegation security at the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and the ministry's security division.
At the meeting, the security needs and expected scenarios during the games were presented.
The Israeli delegation to the Games, which will be held between July 26 and Aug. 11, is expected to include about 120 athletes, staff members and officials. ■
