From Opposition MKs walk out of plenum, will return for Modi speech
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"
Responding to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana’s decision not to invite Supreme Court President Isaac Amit to this evening’s speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opposition MKs walk out of the plenum at the start of the special session.
As opposition MKs leave the plenum, former coalition lawmakers take their places to fill the empty spots.
Several opposition parties release statements stating that they will not attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address and will only reenter the plenum when Modi is slated to begin speaking.
“In light of Amir Ohana’s disgraceful decision to boycott Supreme Court President Justice Amit and not invite him to the ceremonial meeting with the prime minister of India, contrary to all accepted procedure, it was decided to uphold the decision to leave the plenary session in order not to be partners in the boycott,” the opposition’s Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu parties say in identical statements.
“We will only return for the Indian prime minister’s speech to respect the alliance between the countries and express our appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s standing by Israel.”
In a separate statement, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party says that despite Ohana’s “provocation,” its MKs will attend Modi’s speech but not that of Ohana. “In the next government, extremism will be stopped and we will lead Israel on a path of agreements instead of boycotts,” the party says. “I call on all my opposition members to act like us and not add a crime that will harm the country to Ohana’s sin.
Yair Golan’s The Democrats party likewise leaves the plenum.
“Amir Ohana has done more damage to the Knesset than almost any Israeli politician in history. His petty politics and irresponsibility dragged a major world leader into internal politics,” an opposition source tells The Times of Israel. “Ohana has disgraced the Knesset.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, several opposition MKs promise a “surprise” in the plenum but decline to state what further protests they may engage in.
“The Speaker of half the Knesset, Amir Ohana, is disgracing the dignity of the State of Israel by deciding to boycott the president of the Supreme Court, Isaac Amit,” Yesh Atid MK Moshe Tur-Paz tells The Times of Israel.
“Ohana’s primary election considerations cannot be allowed to affect Israel’s foreign relations. We will honor the Indian prime ministerand attend his speech only. Knesset Speaker Ohana and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu do not deserve respect in light of their divisive behavior!”
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