Uproar in Israel over PM Modi's visit; why did opposition leader threaten to boycott Parliament?

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel appears to be entangled in domestic politics. Opposition leader Yair Lapid is threatening to boycott PM Modi's address to the Israeli Parliament. PM Modi is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to Israel on February 25, during which he is expected to address the Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

Opposition leader Lapid on Wednesday threatened to boycott Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address next week if Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit is not invited to a special session. Lapid's threat comes in protest against Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition's continued neglect of the country's chief justice. Opposition parties believe this breach of protocol is an attempt to undermine the dignity of the judiciary.

What are Isreali opposition threats against PM Modi's visit?

Addressing lawmakers in the Israeli Parliament, Yair Lapid stated bluntly, "If the ruling coalition boycotts the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the special session of the Indian Prime Minister, it will not be possible for us to participate in this discussion."

He further warned that the coalition's public boycott of Justice Amit would cause immense embarrassment to the Israeli legislature.

What did Yair Lapid say?

Yair Lapid continued, "We absolutely do not want India to be embarrassed because of us. Especially when the Prime Minister of a country with a population of over one billion addresses a half-empty Knesset (Parliament). The Indian Embassy is also extremely concerned and uncomfortable with this situation."

The controversy has been escalating since Justice Amit was elected President of the Supreme Court in January 2025. Justice Minister Yariv Levin not only refuses to recognize his authority but has also refrained from meeting him or addressing him as the head of the court. Furthermore, as required by law, his appointment as Chief Justice has not yet been published in the state's official gazette.

Some other members of the government have also supported this stance. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi have publicly appealed to the government on several occasions to disregard specific orders and decisions of the court.

This continued boycott has led to Isaac Amit being excluded from several important Knesset events where the Chief Justice's presence is considered mandatory, including addresses by US President Donald Trump and other prominent world leaders.

What happened during the Knesset's 2025 winter legislative session?

Last October, during the Knesset's 2025 winter legislative session, the controversy deepened when Speaker Amir Ohana addressed Amit only as an ordinary judge instead of Chief Justice. President Isaac Herzog strongly objected to this disrespectful behavior.

In protest of this neglect, the opposition boycotted the special session of the Knesset's 77th anniversary two weeks ago. Yair Lapid was the only opposition member to address the House and, during his speech, sharply criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's attitude toward the Chief Justice.

What was the speaker's counterattack on Lapid?

Responding to Lapid's ultimatum on Wednesday, Speaker Ohana hit back at him. Ohana accused the opposition leader of risking the vital Israel-India relationship for his own domestic political gain.

Ohana tweeted, "If opposition leader MK Yair Lapid wants to harm Israel's relations with one of our important friends, one of the world's most important powers, that is his choice. This is a wrong decision, and I hope he will reverse it."

He described such threats as an illegitimate tool for internal political battles.

Ohana asked Lapid to explain to the Indian government why it did not boycott the speeches of Argentine President Javier Milli and US President Trump, in which Justice Amit was not invited.

In response, Lapid issued a public appeal to Netanyahu, acknowledging that boycotting a foreign leader is indeed an illegitimate weapon in internal political battles, but also asserting that the fault lies with the Knesset Speaker.

Lapid said that to prevent damage to Israel-India relations, Netanyahu should immediately instruct Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to also invite Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit to the formal meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yair Lapid emphasized his point, saying, "Speaker Ohana's boycott of Justice Amit is, in effect, a boycott of the entire opposition."

He clarified that he had no intention of harming the nation's dignity, the credibility of the Knesset, or the Prime Minister's image, but that the government's stubborn stance had compelled him to do so.

However, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and other critics have alleged that Justice Amit has heard several cases in which he had personal conflicts of interest. Despite this, experts believe that Justice Amit's critics, including Levin, are angered by his failure to change the judiciary's appointment system to appoint a conservative judge of their choice.

Amidst this ongoing boycott, last month Justice Amit, while talking to national broadcaster Kan, had said that he has been ready to provide all possible cooperation for the proper functioning of the judicial system but he has not received the same cooperation in return from the ruling party.