The Knesset Crisis Pursues the Prime Minister of India.. Will Israel Escape Embarrassment?

SadaNews - Elements in the preliminary delegation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting "Israel" these days, have expressed their discomfort with the tense atmosphere in the Knesset, following the announcement by opposition parties of their intention to boycott Modi's anticipated speech. This comes in protest against Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana's decision not to invite Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit to the ceremonial session, according to what the "Kan" channel reported.

According to diplomatic sources who spoke with members of the Indian delegation, there are concerns about the potential cancellation of the speech at the last minute, which could cause embarrassment for Israel on the international stage. Nevertheless, the current data indicates that the visit's schedule and Modi's speech in the Knesset are proceeding as planned so far.

In the context of preparations, "Kan" reported that the Knesset Speaker is working to fill any seats that may remain vacant in the plenum by inviting former Knesset members to attend, in a bid to avoid the hall appearing half-empty if the opposition follows through on its threat to boycott.

Today's Knesset presidency session witnessed a sharp debate on this issue. During the session, Knesset member Merav Ben Ari from the "Yesh Atid" party asked the Knesset Speaker whether the Supreme Court President was invited to the event, to which Ohana firmly responded: "No, definitely not. He has been absent four times before, so why should he be invited now?" Ben Ari retorted that "no Knesset Speaker has acted in this manner."

In light of the boycott threat, Ohana emphasized that he had prepared in advance to prevent any damage to the image of the visit, telling Ben Ari: "Don’t worry, I promise you that Prime Minister Modi will not speak in front of a half-empty plenum." This statement is based on a plan to invite former Knesset members to fill the vacant seats and present a fully attended hall.

Tensions peaked during the session with an exchange of accusations, as Ben Ari accused the coalition of insulting the Knesset, while Ohana replied that the opposition "will not harm Israel's foreign relations." Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene and allow for the invitation of the Supreme Court President, enabling the opposition to participate in the ceremonial session, asserting that relations with India are more important than party considerations.