Weekly Commentary: Free Pass For Wheelchairs To Block Roads Denies
Everyone's Rights
Dr. Aaron Lerner 14 November, 2021
When the police decline to remove protestors blocking a major road they are
actively deciding to deny thousands of law abiding citizens their basic
right to go from once place to another in the country.
And this isn't just a matter of basically confiscating thousands of hours of
the time of the law abiding citizens.
There are citizens who will miss medical appointments - both to see a
physician, perform a test or carry out a procedure - which they may have
waited literally months for. This could be literally a matter of life and
death.
There are citizens who need to pick up children from facilities which will
be closed by the time they get through the unanticipated delay.
There are citizens who will miss business meetings, job interview, etc.
which can have profound financial consequences.
But the fact is that when a group of people in wheelchairs blocks a major
road or rail line the police give priority to PR over the rights of
thousands of law abiding citizens.
The media supports people in wheelchairs blocking roads and the police do
not want to be photographed removing people in wheelchairs from the road.
Ditto for giving them tickets.
So we face a paradox: the group which is the easiest to remove from the
scene (hardly a challenge to chase after people on wheelchairs) blocks roads
for longer periods of time than any other group.
I was hoping that the new coalition government would change this terrible
policy.
But its just the more of the same.
Enough is enough.
Its time to give the rights of the law abiding citizens priority over PR
considerations.
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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il
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