Left-Wing Activists Protest Outside MK Tzvi Sukkot's Home After Umm al-Fahm Visit

On Monday morning, left-wing activists demonstrated outside the home of MK Tzvi Sukkot, chairman of the Knesset Education Committee, protesting his visit to Umm al-Fahm the previous day. The protesters accused Sukkot of arriving with a police escort while citizens were allegedly harmed, shouting through a megaphone, "Where were you, Tzvi Sukkot?" In response, Sukkot sarcastically invited them to "come every morning to wake the children."

Sukkot's visit to Umm al-Fahm, a predominantly Arab city, was part of his role overseeing education. He toured local schools to examine curricula and educational practices. However, the schools were closed due to a strike called by the local parents' committee and a community committee, who opposed his visit. The strike was decided in an emergency meeting addressing concerns about Sukkot's planned inspection.

During the visit, Sukkot claimed to have found instances of incitement within the education system, presenting photos allegedly showing Raed Salah lecturing students and accusing other hostile-affiliated figures of speaking at schools. He also hung an Israeli flag on a school gate, asserting that schools in the city do not properly display the national flag as required by law. Sukkot stated, "There is no extraterritoriality in the State of Israel," and vowed to continue monitoring education nationwide. He warned that if schools invite individuals convicted of incitement to terror, he would act to cut their state funding.

The visit sparked sharp political reactions. Left-wing activist and Democratic Party candidate Yaya Pink confronted Sukkot during the tour, criticizing the very premise of his visit to Umm al-Fahm.