Israel Delays Emergency Regulations for People with Disabilities Over Budget
The Ministry of Defense is delaying approval of emergency regulations for people with disabilities, citing budget shortfalls, leaving vulnerable populations unprotected.
The Ministry of Defense is delaying the final approval of regulations governing state responsibility for people with disabilities during emergencies, citing a lack of funding. The regulations, approved by the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee two months ago, will only take effect once signed by Minister of Defense Israel Katz, who has thus far refrained from doing so.
Disability rights organizations warn that the delay leaves the elderly and disabled unprotected in the event of renewed hostilities. "The continued hesitation in signing these regulations leaves hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and elderly individuals exposed to life-threatening situations, severely violating their most basic rights," the organizations wrote in a joint appeal.
Twenty-Year Delay and Critical Needs
The regulations regarding the survival needs of people with disabilities during emergencies passed the Knesset last July, twenty years after the parliament first committed to the measure. Over the years, tens of thousands of people with disabilities without access to protected spaces have been left without solutions or municipal support.
The approved regulations stipulate that new public shelters must be accessible, and that the state is responsible for providing accessible information and emergency supplies, including water, food, and medicine.
The Budgetary Dispute
A major issue requiring funding from the Ministry of Defense involves community supporters who would assist the elderly and disabled during emergencies. While it was agreed that National-Civic Service volunteers would fill this role, the Ministry of Defense has yet to approve the framework due to budgetary constraints.
"The continued hesitation in signing these regulations leaves hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and elderly individuals exposed to life-threatening situations."
The Ministry of Defense responded: "The Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee approved the regulations without securing a budget for their implementation. Despite the budget crisis, the defense establishment is making efforts to secure dedicated funding for the provisions under its responsibility."
