In a historic moment, Narendra Modi was conferred the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal” — the highest honour of Knesset — following his address to the Israeli Parliament on Wednesday (February 26, 2026).
He became the first global leader to receive this prestigious medal. The award was presented in recognition of his “exceptional contribution through personal leadership” in strengthening strategic ties between India and Israel. His address received a standing ovation and enthusiastic applause from members of the House.
After the ceremony, PM Modi interacted with Members of Parliament, with several Israeli lawmakers taking selfies and photographs with him. In his speech, he expressed gratitude for the honour and emphasised the strong and enduring friendship between India and Israel.
Notably, PM Modi is among the rare world leaders to have received top honours from both Israel and Palestine. In 2018, he was awarded the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine — the highest civilian honour bestowed by Palestine upon foreign dignitaries.
During his address, PM Modi highlighted the deep historical and civilisational links between India and Israel, stating that the relationship between the two peoples dates back over two thousand years. He referred to ancient texts, noting that the Book of Esther mentions India as “Hodu,” and the Talmud records early trade connections.
He also underscored India’s long-standing Jewish heritage, pointing out that Jewish communities have lived in India for centuries without persecution or discrimination, fully participating in society — a record he described as a matter of national pride.
Highlighting the importance of people-to-people connections, PM Modi spoke about the growing popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda in Israel and encouraged more young Israelis to visit India. He further noted that the Indian Parliament has established a Parliamentary Friendship Group for Israel and called for enhanced exchanges between lawmakers of both democracies.
