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February 25, 2026, Jerusalem
A significant diplomatic milestone is currently unfolding in Jerusalem as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for his second official state visit to Israel. This visit, occurring nearly nine years after his groundbreaking first trip in 2017, is set to reach a pinnacle with an address to the Knesset, making him the first Indian head of government to speak before the Israeli parliament. While the mission is intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation in high technology, artificial intelligence, and defense, the event has become entangled in a domestic political standoff involving the Israeli judiciary and the parliamentary opposition.
The controversy involves the refusal of the Knesset leadership to invite the President of the Supreme Court of Israel, Yitzhak Amit, to the special session scheduled for the Indian leader. Justice Amit, who was elected as the court president in January 2025, has faced a series of snubs from members of the current coalition government, leading to his exclusion from major state functions. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has officially stated that his bloc will boycott the address if the head of the judiciary is not included in accordance with long-standing state protocol. Lapid has urged the government to resolve the issue to prevent the embarrassment of the Prime Minister of a global power speaking to a half-empty chamber.
In response to the potential boycott, the Speaker of the Knesset has indicated that he may invite former lawmakers to occupy the vacant seats to ensure the plenum appears full during the historic speech. Despite these internal tensions, the visit remains focused on a robust substantive agenda, including meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. The two nations are expected to finalize several agreements aimed at realigning their shared vision for a strategic partnership. As the scheduled address approaches, diplomatic observers are watching to see if the internal protocol dispute will be settled or if the landmark session will proceed amidst a significant political protest.
