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The speaker of Israel's parliament refused to convene a special session for a video address from the Ukrainian president, according to three Israeli officials.

Knesset speaker Mickey Levy said that Zelensky will address members of the Knesset on a Zoom call in the coming days, after he was accused of rejecting Zelensky's request for a special session.

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Zelensky is one of the few Jewish world leaders outside of Israel and he is trying to rally global support for Ukraine. He received standing applause when he addressed the U.K. and EU parliaments.

  • Zelensky's speech will be public and open to the press the same way as a Knesset session, but the lawmakers will log in remotely, according to a source in the Knesset.

  • Levy said in a statement that he couldn't convene a special session because the hall is being renovated.

The last day of the current legislative session was when the Ukrainian ambassador presented a formal request to the Knesset speaker.

  • Mickey replied in writing that it would be an honor to facilitate such an address, but that it should be held remotely because the Knesset would be on a break.

  • Levy's aides say that he consulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before he replied, and that the ministry would not object to such a call.

  • The Ukrainians were very disappointed by the reply. The ambassador didn't say anything.

Zelensky's speech to the British parliament, in which he invoked the name of the leader of the free world, was shared widely in the U.K. and around the world.

  • At a time when he is trying to mobilize global support for a stronger response to Russia's invasion, a private Zoom call will offer a much smaller platform.

Levy released a statement after the story broke saying he couldn't convene a special session because the hall is being renovated.

Zelensky did not address a joint session of Congress, but did hold a conference with members of both houses.

Bennett emerges as a key mediator between Putin and Zelensky.

The story has been updated with the news that Zelensky will be in the Knesset.

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