Rahat Schools Shut Down in Protest Against MK Tzvi Sukkot's Controversial Visit
The Rahat municipality announced on Thursday that all schools and educational institutions in the city will be closed on Sunday, July 12, in protest against the planned visit of MK Tzvi Sukkot, chairman of the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee. The municipality described the visit as a "provocative move" that does not serve the interests of Rahat's education system or its students. It emphasized that schools are meant to provide a safe and stable learning environment and should not be arenas for political provocations or conflicts.
Following an emergency meeting involving the city’s parent committee and local community representatives, the decision was made to suspend all educational and public activities on the day of Sukkot's visit. Administrative, secretarial, maintenance, and security staff will also not be present in the schools that day. The municipality criticized the visit for being scheduled without coordination with city leadership or relevant educational authorities and stated it will act responsibly to prevent any tensions or demonstrations that serve political agendas at the expense of student safety and educational stability.
Rahat’s Mayor Talal Al-Karnawi told Walla News that no summer camp activities will take place during this time and that Sukkot’s visit is a political provocation. He refused to meet with Sukkot, asserting that if the MK wants a meeting, he knows how to arrange it properly. The municipality called on residents to remain calm, avoid provocations, and allow authorized bodies to handle the situation to preserve the city’s welfare.
This development follows Sukkot’s recent visit to Umm al-Fahm, which was heavily secured and met with strong opposition from the city’s leadership and residents. During that visit, schools were closed in protest, and Sukkot claimed his purpose was to oversee educational content, alleging that "designated terrorist organizations" were allowed to lecture in local schools. He also accused the Umm al-Fahm mayor of requesting that he not come, implying the mayor might have something to hide. During the visit, Sukkot carried an Israeli flag and a poster of Sheikh Raed Salah, a banned leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, sparking protests from local residents who called him a racist and demanded he leave.
The Rahat municipality reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining public order, respecting the city and its residents, and ensuring continuity in education despite the political tensions surrounding the visit.
