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Monday, February 23, 2026
Amid opposition boycott, Knesset speaker means to fill seats at Modi speech with former MKs
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
If the opposition boycotts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Knesset speech Wednesday, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will fill their seats with former lawmakers, national broadcaster Kan reports.
According to the network, Yesh Atid MK Meirav Ben-Ari challenged Ohana during a meeting today, during which he replied that “of course” Supreme Court President Isaac Amit had not been invited to attend the speech.
“Don’t worry, I promise you that Prime Minister Modi will not speak to a half-empty plenum,” Ohana said.
Opposition Leader and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid has threatened to boycott Modi’s speech unless Amit is invited.
Addressing reporters ahead of his weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman blames Ohana for any opposition boycott, stating that he is not enforcing Knesset regulations.
“The one who started all the boycotts is the Knesset speaker,” says Liberman. “I really hope he changes his mind.”
A spokesperson for the Judicial Authority told The Times of Israel that as of this afternoon, Amit has yet to receive an invitation.
The Times of Israel Community.