Israeli Opposition Threatens to Boycott Modi’s Knesset Address Over Supreme Court Snub

Jerusalem | February 25, 2026: Ahead of Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel, opposition lawmakers in the Knesset have threatened to boycott his address, citing a dispute with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana over the exclusion of Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit from the special session. Modi is set to become the first Indian prime minister to address the Israeli parliament.

The tension stems from the Netanyahu government’s ongoing judicial overhaul, which has limited the authority of the Supreme Court. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for Speaker Ohana to invite Amit, emphasizing that the boycott is not against Modi but against the exclusion of the judiciary. “We do not want India to be embarrassed with a half-empty Knesset,” Lapid said, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene.

Ohana defended his decision, accusing the opposition of harming Israel’s relationship with “one of the most significant powers of the world” and pointed out that Supreme Court justices were not invited to similar sessions with international leaders in the past, including former US President Donald Trump.

Despite the standoff, Modi’s visit is packed with engagements. Upon arrival, he will meet Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport and proceed to Jerusalem for an official Knesset welcome ceremony. Modi is then scheduled to deliver his address to the Knesset plenum, attend an innovation event, and conclude the day with an official dinner at the King David Hotel. The visit also includes a call on President Isaac Herzog.

The opposition’s boycott highlights the internal political tension in Israel, even as the government seeks to showcase its diplomatic ties with India.