Disabled Israeli Energy Minister Denied Access to COP 26 Climate Conference

Times of Israel Photo of Energy Minister Elharrar

In an article posted on BBC, it was reported that Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of UK and former Mayor of London, has apologized to Israeli minister Karine Elharrar who was unable to access the COP26 conference in her wheelchair. Ms Elharrar told Israel's Channel 12 that she could not get onto the grounds of the conference because the only options were to either walk or take a shuttle that was not suitable for a wheelchair. Ms. Elharrar is disabled with muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.

According to the article, the Israeli minister was forced to return to her hotel 50 miles away after waiting outside the conference for two hours. Johnson told her he was sorry for the "confusion" when the energy minister joined a meeting with him and Israel's PM, Naftali Bennett.

After the incident, the minister stated, "We can talk about accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities, but in life we need to implement all the conventions and all the regulations and that was an experience that showed that we need to pay attention to all the details everywhere.” Later she tweeted that it was "sad" the UN "does not provide accessibility to its events".

Elharrar serves as the Israeli Minister of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources. COP26 is the 2021 United Nations (UN) climate change conference that is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK), between 31 October and 12 November 2021.

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