Monday, July 6, 2009

Wheelchair-using MK in Israel receives driver amid some controversy

From IsraelNN.com:

Chairman Reuven Grunau of the public committee for determing privileges for Members of Knesset adopted on Sunday Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin's recommendation to assign a driver to help MK Moshe Matlon (who represents Yisrael Beiteinu) function despite disabilities suffered during military service which confine him to a wheelchair.

The decision represents a victory for Rivlin over Knesset legal advisor Nurit Elstein, who disagreed with Rivlin, issuing an opinion that the move an illegal political privilege. Matlon (pictured) praised Rivlin and Knesset General Manager Dan Landau for their fortitude and called the decision a light for all those who have taken on the cause of providing accessibility for the disabled.