BORIS Johnson has apologised for "confusion" after an Israeli minister was shut out of COP26 due to a lack of wheelchair access.
Karine Elharrar, who has muscular dystrophy, waited outside the SEC in Glasgow for two hours but eventually had to return to her accommodation in Edinburgh, 50 miles away.
The energy minister said she was “sad” to miss meetings at the climate summit.
Johnson apologised for the "confusion" when she joined a meeting with Israel's prime minister Naftali Bennett.
The Israeli leader called it a "learning opportunity for all of us in the importance of accessibility for all" – a statement which the Tory PM agreed with, according to the BBC.
Elharrar was able to access COP26 “very easily” on the second day of the conference, telling the BBC it was "quite a different experience".
She said she hoped her experience would help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The energy minister added: "We can talk about accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities, but in life we need to implement all the conventions and all the regulations and that was an experience that showed that we need to pay attention to all the details everywhere.
"I am sure it will be different in the future."
READ MORE: Patrick Harvie to use COP26 to push independence case internationally
The climate conference is a UN event but this year it is being hosted by the UK Government in Glasgow.
The UK’s ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, apologised "deeply and sincerely" to the minister.
Elharrar told Israel's Channel 12 that she could not get onto the grounds of the conference because the only options were to either walk or take a shuttle that was not suitable for a wheelchair.
However, Tory Environment Secretary suggested the “deeply regrettable” incident was the fault of the Israeli delegation.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What would normally happen in this situation is that Israel would have communicated that they had that particular need for their minister.
"There was obviously something that went wrong in this instance and they weren't aware of that so they hadn't made the right provisions at that particular entrance she was coming too."
Eustice added: "I know that at most of the other entrances there [is] wheelchair access there. It was because she obviously came to an entrance that didn't have that provision."
LibDem peer Lady Ludford replied on social media, tweeting: "Not the most gracious of responses for the COP26 host to blame the guest."
A COP26 spokeswoman commented: "This was a genuine mistake and we have apologised to Minister Elharrar -we look forward to her attendance at COP26 today.
"We remain committed to an inclusive event accessible to all and the venue was designed to facilitate that."
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