Israeli opposition rethinks boycott of Indian PM’s Knesset speech
After announcing a boycott over the Supreme Court president’s absence, Israel’s opposition is reconsidering attending today’s Knesset session for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, KAN News reported Tuesday.
Some opposition members of Knesset could participate in the special session in a limited capacity. Opposition party leaders arranged to meet today to make a final decision on the matter.
In an 𝕏 post on Tuesday evening, opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed Modi ahead of his visit to Israel. “All of Israel is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi tomorrow. He is a true friend of Israel,” Lapid wrote, adding that the Israel-India relationship is “not only strategic but also a deep friendship between two nations.”
Recently, the opposition threatened to leave the Knesset plenum empty for Modi’s speech after Supreme Court President Isaac Amit was not invited. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who opted against inviting Amit, said the decision was meant to protect the visit’s image. “Don’t worry, I promise Prime Minister Modi will not address a half-empty plenum,” he told MK Merav Ben-Ari.
Ohana planned to bring in former Knesset members, KAN News reported, to fill the seats of opposition members intending to boycott.
Michael Shemesh is a political correspondent for KAN 11 news.
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