Disgraceful: Opposition Boycotts Netanyahu’s Speech During Modi Visit
While a world leader visits during a security crisis, the petty opposition chooses a childish walkout over national unity. They are abandoning the plenum and insulting Israel’s strongest allies just to score cheap political points.
The Israeli opposition has announced a partial boycott of today's festive Knesset session honoring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While opposition members intend to honor the Indian leader, they will pointedly walk out during speeches by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The move comes in response to Speaker Ohana’s controversial decision to break long-standing protocol by not inviting Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit to the ceremony.
Statements from the Opposition:
* Yesh Atid: The party labeled Ohana’s decision as "disgraceful," stating they will exit the plenum during the Israeli leaders' remarks so as not to be "partners in this exclusion." They confirmed they would return specifically for PM Modi’s speech to respect the alliance between the two nations.
* Yisrael Beytenu: Faction Chairman Oded Forer echoed this sentiment, condemning the breach of protocol and confirming his party would join the walkout as a protest against the snub of Justice Amit.
* Blue and White (Kachol Lavan): The party accused Ohana of staging a "provocation" intended to serve his own primary interests. They urged the rest of the opposition to return for Modi's speech, stating that failing to honor a true friend of Israel would only "add a crime to Ohana's sin."
The protest highlights the ongoing friction between the executive and judicial branches, even as Israel hosts one of its most significant international allies. PM Modi, who arrived earlier today, is expected to address the Knesset later this evening to reaffirm the strategic bond between New Delhi and Jerusalem.