First-ever deaf candidate for Knesset joins New Right
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said the New Right seeks to “implement right-wing policies with social sensitivity.”
By LAHAV HARKOVUpdated: JANUARY 8, 2019 17:11Naftali Bennett, Shirley Pinto and Ayelet Shaked (left to right)(photo credit: NEW RIGHT)
Shirly Pinto made history on Tuesday, becoming the first-ever deaf candidate to run for Knesset after the New Right announced she would be on their list.Pinto, 30, was born deaf and is an activist for disabled people’s rights, who worked towards that end in the Ruderman Foundation and the Link20 youth group. She also volunteered as the Ramat Gan Municipality’s adviser on disability affairs. She attended law school, and taught sign-language interpretation at Bar-Ilan University. She volunteered for IDF service, where she was a project and logistic manager in the air force, and received a commendation of excellence.“I’m happy and excited to announce that I joined the New Right,” Pinto said. “I will continue to act with all my might, as I have in the past, to help people with disabilities in Israel and to be their representative in the Knesset, with a goal to turn Israel into a more accessible, egalitarian and accepting society.”Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said the New Right seeks to “implement right-wing policies with social sensitivity.”Shaked expressed confidence that Pinto will be an effective advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
