Israeli opposition to skip Modi’s Knesset speech amid dispute over judicial protocol

DELHI: Narendra Modi is set to address the Knesset during his upcoming visit to Israel, but the country’s opposition has announced plans to boycott the session, according to a report by Israeli daily Haaretz.

Modi will visit Israel from February 25 to 26, marking his second trip to the country, as confirmed by India’s foreign ministry.

The reported boycott stems from a dispute between opposition leader Yair Lapid and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. The disagreement centres on Ohana’s decision not to invite Supreme Court President Isaac Amit to attend the special parliamentary session, a move Lapid argues breaks with established practice.

Haaretz said Lapid has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene and ensure Amit is invited. In a post on X, Lapid stressed the opposition’s desire to attend the session but warned that excluding the chief justice would effectively prevent their participation.

Speaking in the Knesset last week, Lapid cautioned that sidelining Justice Amit would amount to sidelining the opposition, making it impossible for them to be present during Modi’s address. He added that the opposition does not want to see a situation where the Indian leader addresses a sparsely attended chamber.

The report also cited Lapid as saying that the Indian embassy appeared concerned about the unfolding dispute.

In response, Ohana reportedly said he would invite former lawmakers to fill any empty seats left by boycotting members. He also called on Lapid not to undermine Israel’s foreign relations with what he described as one of the world’s most significant powers, characterising the boycott as an inappropriate political tactic.

The developments come against the backdrop of broader tensions over the Israeli government’s push to advance legislation aimed at reshaping the powers of the judiciary.