Yair Golan Attacks Tzvi Sukkot Over Monument Vandalism, Faces Legal Threats

The controversy over the vandalism of a monument by Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot in the West Bank village of Ma'adama escalated into a direct confrontation between Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Camp, and Sukkot. Golan criticized Sukkot for his actions, accusing him of being responsible for the redeployment of IDF forces from southern Israel to the West Bank on October 7, and for breaking into IDF bases. Golan wrote that Sukkot is "trying with his own hands to ignite more fire and war" and that he "should be behind bars, not in the Knesset." In response, Sukkot demanded that Golan delete the claim within half an hour, denying that any soldiers were redeployed because of him. He warned that if Golan did not retract the statement, he would face a lawsuit and financial penalties similar to those imposed on Dan Harel, a retired general and Golan's ally. The dispute centers on reports that IDF forces were diverted from southern Israel to secure a sukkah Sukkot erected near Hawara in the West Bank before October 7. This claim was previously made by Dan Harel, who was ordered by a court to pay Sukkot 35,000 shekels in damages for defamation.