Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Skip to main content

Israeli minister in wheelchair can access COP26 after initially denied by police

Share
TEL AVIV, Israel -

Israel's energy minister, who uses a wheelchair, was able to attend the global climate summit Tuesday, a day after police prevented her from reaching the venue.

Energy Minister Karine Elharrar arrived at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow alongside Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, using a blue ramp to enter the building, according to footage sent by Bennett's office.

"Tomorrow the exact same thing will be here," he said, gesturing toward the accessible entrance. "It's very important, so is the message" it sends, he said.

A spokeswoman for Elharrar said Monday that she wasn't able to attend the conference after police officers at a checkpoint did not let her vehicle with the wheelchair through.

Elharrar's spokeswoman Shaked Eliyahu said that even though conference organizers knew she required an accessible entrance, the minister's car was kept from approaching for two hours, after which she was offered a ride on a shuttle -- which wasn't wheelchair accessible.

The incident was an embarrassment to organizers of the high-profile event and prompted Britain's ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, to apologize.

After the incident, Elharrar wrote on Twitter that "It's sad that the UN, which advances accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021, doesn't see to accessibility at its events."

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a tweet addressed to the conference's organizers that "you cannot be concerned about the future, climate, and sustainability if you aren't concerned first of all to people, accessibility, and people with disabilities."

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Pasquale Monaco says he’s debating whether to keep renting out the two-bedroom basement apartment of the Montreal building he owns after it was flooded — again — in August, when the remnants of tropical storm Debby sent four feet of water rushing into the space.

Childhood sleep issues may raise suicide risk, study finds

If your child sometimes has trouble sleeping, it may be easy to chalk it up to a phase they will grow out of one day. But a new study suggests possible serious consequences for this line of thought — such as a higher risk for suicidal ideation or attempts when they are older.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.