Outgoing MK Zvi Sukkot Bids Farewell, Vows to Continue Public Service
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Former Knesset member Zvi Sukkot bid farewell to parliamentary service after the 26th Knesset convened. In a social media post, Sukkot reflected on his term, thanking supporters and acknowledging Bezalel Smotrich. He discussed Israel's existential threats and his belief that appeasement emboldens enemies. Sukkot also highlighted how public controversies he initiated led to significant actions, such as the demolition of enemy monuments and exposing truths in sensitive affairs. He concluded by stating he is not leaving public life, despite departing the Knesset.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former MK Zvi Sukkot reflected on his parliamentary term and thanked supporters in a farewell post.
- Sukkot stated that Israel is the only country in constant life-threatening danger.
- He believes appeasement has emboldened enemies and made terror grow.
- Sukkot cited controversies he initiated as leading to positive changes on the ground.
- Despite leaving the Knesset, Sukkot vowed to continue his public service mission.
Zvi Sukkot, a former Knesset member from the Religious Zionism party, has bid farewell to his parliamentary service following the opening session of the 26th Knesset, where 120 members took their oaths. Many outgoing MKs, including Sukkot, had to vacate their offices. In a social media post, Sukkot reflected on his term, detailing his actions and thanking his family and friends. He also expressed gratitude to Bezalel Smotrich, the party chairman, despite Smotrich's reserved list spots having pushed Sukkot out of the Knesset.
Sukkot recalled his maiden speech, where he spoke of a "Hasidic politics" dream, and addressed the existential threat facing Israel. "It is terrifying to look reality in the eye, but when we erred in our imaginations, we received the enemy into our living rooms with endless cruelty and without a shred of compassion," he stated. He described Israel as "the only country in the world in a state of absolute, constant life-threatening danger," asserting that "our enemies are many and do not stop their preparations and plans for our destruction, God forbid." Sukkot believes that "terror has grown to monstrous dimensions because we educated them that it pays."
He argued that the controversies he stirred during his term helped change realities on the ground. "A Knesset member's way to influence in Israel passes significantly through the public sphere, beyond the parliamentary toolkit," he explained. Sukkot cited the demolition of an "monument" in Kfar Mada, which caused public outcry, as leading the IDF to launch an operation to destroy 50 similar monuments. He also addressed his controversial entry into the Shdei Teiman camp, stating he wouldn't repeat it due to "disputes in the legal interpretation of the immunity law," but maintained it "led to immense public outcry that ultimately led to the truth being revealed in the affair."
Concluding his post, Sukkot conveyed a message of hope, emphasizing that he is not leaving public life. "We are a people who love life very much, a people with many plans for the repair of the world, and a people who will not allow anyone in the world to try to harm them. This must be the clearest and most unequivocal," he said. "Only then can we truly repair. I am indeed saying goodbye to the Knesset today, but not to the mission. These were four stormy years that changed us all, but the mission began long before them and, God willing, will continue long after them."