Karine Elharrar, who uses a wheelchair, was unable to attend the summit on Monday due to accessibility issues.
Israeli Energy and Water Minister Karine Elharrar received an apology from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the organizers of Cop26 after being denied entry to the summit due to inadequate wheelchair access. Elharrar, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, shared her frustration on social media, stating that she was prevented from entering the venue and was forced to wait outside for two hours. Despite her attempts to find an accessible way into the venue, the shuttle offered to her was not wheelchair-friendly, which ultimately led her to return to her hotel in Edinburgh.
Elharrar expressed disappointment on Twitter, calling the situation “outrageous” and criticizing the United Nations for failing to provide accessibility at such an important international event in 2021, a year that also marks ongoing global conversations about accessibility for people with disabilities.
Her office confirmed the incident and said that they had lodged a formal complaint with Cop26 organizers. In response, the Israeli delegation indicated that Elharrar would be granted proper access to the summit on Tuesday by joining the official convoy of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
