Bennett Launches National Disability Inclusion Plan Ahead of Israeli Elections
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has launched a comprehensive national plan aimed at enhancing accessibility and social inclusion for people with disabilities, pledging its implementation if elected in the upcoming October elections. Speaking at an event in Bnei Brak, Bennett highlighted that Israel’s 1.2 million citizens with disabilities have been inadequately integrated into society. His proposal targets raising their employment rate to 60% within five years through tax credits for employers and safety nets for workers. The plan also leverages Israel’s tech sector to advance accessibility innovations, such as smart wheelchairs and prosthetics. Additionally, Bennett outlined infrastructure improvements, including accessible intercity buses and tourism sites, and proposed a streamlined recruitment track for disabled individuals in the IDF. This initiative marks a significant policy push by Bennett’s new party, Bennett 2026, which recently aligned with the Shoulder to Shoulder organization. The announcement comes as Bennett trails Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in polls, positioning disability rights as a central pillar of his campaign platform while criticizing current bureaucratic hurdles in military conscription and social integration.
Wire timeline
Bennett Launches National Disability Inclusion Plan Ahead of Israeli Elections
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has launched a comprehensive national plan aimed at enhancing accessibility and social inclusion for people with disabilities, pledging its implementation if elected in the upcoming October elections. Speaking at an event in Bnei Brak, Bennett highlighted that Israel’s 1.2 million citizens with disabilities have been inadequately integrated into society. His proposal targets raising their employment rate to 60% within five years through tax credits for employers and safety nets for workers. The plan also leverages Israel’s tech sector to advance accessibility innovations, such as smart wheelchairs and prosthetics. Additionally, Bennett outlined infrastructure improvements, including accessible intercity buses and tourism sites, and proposed a streamlined recruitment track for disabled individuals in the IDF. This initiative marks a significant policy push by Bennett’s new party, Bennett 2026, which recently aligned with the Shoulder to Shoulder organization. The announcement comes as Bennett trails Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in polls, positioning disability rights as a central pillar of his campaign platform while criticizing current bureaucratic hurdles in military conscription and social integration.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World