Israeli minister unable to join 1st day of COP26 due to wheelchair inaccessibility

By Mustafa Deveci

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar was not able to attend the first day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland due to a lack accessibility for wheelchair users.

In a statement Monday, the Energy Ministry said that for about two hours, the conference’s organizers did not allow Elharrar, who has muscular dystrophy, to enter the venue in the vehicle in which she arrived.

They suggested a shuttle to Elharrar, but it was not suitable for wheelchair users.

Later, she returned to her hotel.

Elharrar said on Twitter that it is sad that the UN, which promotes accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021 does not provide access to its events.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Elharrar in a phone call that being left out of the COP26 climate summit due to wheelchair inaccessibility is unacceptable.

Bennett has decided that Elharrar's vehicle will be included in his convoy on his way to Tuesday's meeting.