Jerusalem: Narendra Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). Ahead of the speech, Prime ...
Jerusalem: Narendra Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). Ahead of the speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at length, praising the deep personal bond between the two leaders.
"My dear friend Narendra, I am extremely moved by your visit today," Netanyahu said. "Because of diplomatic protocols, I am not ranking this visit—if I did, I would get into trouble. However, I am overjoyed by this visit from a great friend of Israel, a champion of the India-Israel alliance, and a great leader on the world stage." Netanyahu added that Modi is more than just a friend; he is like a brother. He also pointed out that trade between the two countries has doubled and cooperation has tripled over the last few years.
Opposition Boycott and Special Invitations
The session was marked by internal political friction as opposition MPs staged a walkout to protest the fact that Supreme Court President Isaac Amit was not invited to the event. To ensure the chamber didn't look empty due to the boycott, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invited former MPs to attend.
Former representatives, including Moshe Roth (United Torah Judaism) and Pnina Rosenblum (Likud Party), accepted the invitation. Coalition sources stated that former members were invited in this manner due to the "special nature" of the occasion.
Praise from Speaker Amir Ohana
Speaker Amir Ohana expressed his pride in welcoming the leader of the world’s largest democracy. He noted that in 2017, Modi was the first Indian PM to visit Israel, and now he is making history as the first Indian leader to address the Knesset. Ohana highlighted that both India and Israel stand united against terrorism, noting that Modi was one of the first world leaders to condemn the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The Opposition's Stance
Opposition parties, including Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu, described the Speaker’s decision to exclude the Supreme Court President as "shameful." While they chose to boycott Netanyahu’s speech in protest, they clarified they would return to the chamber for Modi’s speech as a mark of respect for India. Opposition members accused Speaker Amir Ohana of undermining Israel’s dignity and dragging domestic politics into foreign policy.
COMMENTS