Israeli Government Report Calls for Overhaul of Disabled Parking Permit System

A government inter-ministerial team in Israel has recommended a major reform of the disabled parking permit system, including re-evaluating and potentially canceling existing permits. The report revealed that by the end of 2025, approximately 446,000 individuals were eligible for disabled parking permits, linked to around 655,000 vehicles, representing 17% of all private cars compared to just 6% in 2014. It highlighted that 67% of permits were approved by Ministry of Transport-appointed doctors based solely on medical documents, without sufficient criteria or oversight. The Ministry of Transport estimates that about 150,000 permits granted in recent years were issued improperly. Following the report's release, the National Insurance Institute stated that its role is specific to providing relevant eligibility information to the Ministry of Transport, which remains responsible for issuing the permits. The report underscores concerns about the current system's integrity and calls for stricter controls and verification processes.