M.K. 222004

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
[TV Interview about the Supreme Court's decision to allow the handicapped to join Air Force Combat Pilot Training]... I'm here with Yoav Reim, who was afflicted with brain paralysis and therefore joined the Meretz party. Yoav, were you happy with the court's ruling?

Crippled Man:
[In a wheelchair, drooling and speaking somewhat slurred] Of course, I was very excited.

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
But you didn't fall out of your seat.

Crippled Man:
No, I'm strapped to it. I think the courts have finally achieved justice. From now on, not only the best will be pilots, but everybody.

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
Yoav, you know you have a speech disorder, so if you can please use shorter sentences, because we haven't got all day.

Crippled Man:
Sorry.

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
It's ok. Also here is "Ayin", an Israeli Airforce pilot. Yoav, do you want to say anything to "Ayin"?

Crippled Man:
Yes. How do you know that crippled -

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
- Short sentences!

Crippled Man:
Yes yes, how do you know that crippled people can't be pilots?

IAF Pilot:
[chuckles and sighs] Yoav, Yoav, now how are they going to get on the plane, huh? We'd have to rig some sort of electric device to the roof to lift up the chair!

Crippled Man:
Yes, but "Ayin" -

IAF Pilot:
- It'll cost millions to upgrade all the aircraft!

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
But, don't they deserve a chance?

IAF Pilot:
No.

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
If you had a crippled child, would you speak differently?

IAF Pilot:
Of course.

Gili Lahav Nachmani:
Thank you.