Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred with the prestigious “Speaker of the Knesset Medal,” the highest honour awarded by the Israeli Parliament, in recognition of his exceptional leadership in strengthening strategic ties between India and Israel. He became the first global leader to receive the award. The medal was presented by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) following Modi’s address to the Israeli Parliament, where members accorded him a standing ovation.
Accepting the honour, Modi said the recognition was not a personal accolade but a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India and the enduring friendship between the two nations. He highlighted the deep civilizational bonds shared by India and Israel and reiterated India’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation across sectors.
Israel: The Parliament conferred the "Speaker of the Knesset Medal" upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address today. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to receive this medal, the highest honor of the Knesset pic.twitter.com/jXXPGvT9zo
— IANS (@ians_india) February 25, 2026
Modi is among the few world leaders to have received top honours from both Israel and Palestine, having earlier been awarded the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine in 2018. Over the past decade, India-Israel relations have expanded significantly in defence, agriculture, technology and space, with ties elevated to a strategic partnership following his landmark visit to Israel in 2017. Discussions towards a free trade agreement have also gained momentum.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Modi as a “brother” and a respected global leader, stating that bilateral cooperation has increased fourfold in recent years. He praised Modi’s leadership and said the growing partnership reflects the shared vision and strong mutual trust between the two countries.