Opposition parties boycotted most of the special plenum session on Wednesday that hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi because Supreme Court Chief Justice Isaac Amit was not invited.
Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu announced just before the session that they would attend Modi’s speech but would boycott the remarks of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The opposition seats were filled with other guests and former MKs invited by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana – rather than remaining empty when Netanyahu spoke.
However, MK Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White Party in opposition, joined for Netanyahu’s speech, along with other MKs from his faction.
Other opposition MKs returned to the plenum only later, when opposition leader MK Yair Lapid made brief remarks at the podium, and Modi subsequently addressed the plenum.
“I just want you to know whatever happened here has nothing to do with you,” Lapid told Modi when he spoke at the Knesset plenum.
Yesh Atid stated that “in light of Amir Ohana’s disgraceful decision to boycott Supreme Court Chief Justice Amit and not invite him to the festive session with the prime minister of India, contrary to all accepted protocol, it was decided to leave the plenum in order not to be party to the boycott.”
The party added, “We will return only for the speech of the prime minister of India in order to honor the alliance between the countries and to express our appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s support for Israel.”
Government refuses to recognize Isaac Amit as Supreme Court chief justice
The tensions stem from the rift between the government and the judiciary, with the government refusing to formally recognize Amit as the court’s chief justice.
Ahead of the session, Lapid cautioned that empty seats during Modi’s visit would send a negative message and potentially harm international relations. He called on Netanyahu to invite Amit.
“We are not boycotting the plenum, we are being boycotted,” Lapid said.
“Ohana knows that by not inviting the chief justice of the Supreme Court to the event, he is not allowing us to be there.
“That turns it into a Knesset of half the country, without proper governance,” Lapid added.