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Last week, Israel Police officials announced they would exhibit zero tolerance for continued protests by disabled Israelis that include blocking roadways after showing tolerance for over a week. Police report from now on, the roads will be opened and persons will be taken into custody.

This however has not deterred a continuation of the protests as the disable community insists it must receive an increase in benefits, and will not be deterred from this goal.

In addition, agreement was reached on erev Yom Kippur but this too has not deterred protesters from continuing. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday, 11 Tishrei, made the following comments pertaining to the handicapped protests at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

“On the eve of Yom Kippur agreements were reached with the handicapped organizations. These agreements will lead to a dramatic improvement in the situation of persons with disabilities in the State of Israel. I think that this is an historic agreement because it entails a significant budgetary increase and this increase will begin in January. But beyond this, this is a 4.2 billion NIS supplement. This is – as the Finance Minister correctly emphasizes – is a supplement of almost 50% of the considerable expenditure that the State of Israel spends on dealing with persons with disabilities.

“These agreements express the understanding and the principles that the Finance Minister and I set at the outset. They also include, I would say, certain arrangements to verify that this will not lead to amounts that we will be unable to meet. This is to say that they will maintain the budgetary framework, but also give a very significant supplement to the handicapped, and I think – in a prudent manner.

“I would like to thank all those who took part in the negotiations and to the handicapped organizations, to Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon – thank you very much, and National Economic Council Chairman Avi Simchon, thank you sir. I would like to thank coalition chairman MK David Bitan, Histadrut Chairman Avi Nissankoren, MK Ilan Gilon and other MKs, and all those who, in the end, supported bringing about these agreements. This will be brought to Knesset legislation and it is good that it will receive a significant majority. It substantially changes the face of the country as a first world country that – first of all – truly looks after the weaker links.

“What is important in my view is that this will be a supplement to the truly disabled, to allow them to live with honor and also to make a respectable living, and not create a situation of fictitious handicaps. This is the main thing that we considered. I think that these two goals have largely been achieved. Again, I thank everyone who was involved.

Police suggest that motorists use Waze, as the application is updated to include roads blocked during these protests. On Sunday morning 11 Tishrei, roads were blocked in the area of the Sira Interchange in Herzliya.

Leaders of the protests insist they will continue until at the very least, a certain percentage of the disabled community receives assistance reaching minimum monthly wage at the very least.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)