Request for the convening of the Public Inquiries Committee due to the lack of accessibility in the holy places Israel today

MK Moshe Abutbul (Shas) addressed the chairman of the Knesset's Public Inquiries Committee, MK Yael Ron Ben Moshe, demanding an urgent discussion on the issue of accessibility of religious buildings, following the publication in "Israel Today".

This morning (Thursday) we published a report by the Knesset Research Institute in which it emerged that out of about 130 holy sites throughout Israel, only about ten percent are accessible to people with disabilities.

Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron, Photo: David Cohen - Ginny

"The study conducted by the Knesset's Information and Research Center showed that only 10 percent of religious places in Israel are accessible," wrote MK Abutbul. "This is a particularly dismal figure."

MK Moshe Abutbul,

The Shas MK added that "it is important to understand that this is not only a serious violation of the freedom of movement of the disabled person, but also of the freedom of worship and religion.

"Many times it is also about special happy prayers and special events such as the festivities that take place in the place and this is avoided by the same person."

The Tomb of the Ari in Safed, Photo: David Cohen - Ginny

"The law in Israel requires the accessibility of religious sites and tombs of the righteous, and the Ministry of Religions and relevant bodies must act in this matter," said MK Abutbul.

"From the day I entered the Knesset, I have repeatedly received public inquiries on these issues, especially from the disabled public, who, like everyone else, expect to come to these holy places to the graves of the nations of the Jewish nation."