MK Tzvi Sukkot Threatens Defamation Suit, Yair Golan Deletes Post

MK Tzvi Sukkot threatened to sue Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party and retired general, for defamation over a social media post accusing Sukkot of causing IDF troop redeployment from the south before October 7. Sukkot gave Golan a 30-minute ultimatum to delete the post or face a lawsuit, after which Golan promptly removed the statement. In the deleted post, Golan claimed Sukkot was responsible for diverting IDF forces to the West Bank instead of keeping them in the south, accused him of breaking into IDF bases, and called for him to be imprisoned rather than serving in the Knesset.

This incident follows a previous defamation case in which Sukkot won a ruling against retired general Dan Harel, who had similarly alleged that Sukkot’s sukkah in Hawara caused the redeployment of a battalion and a half from the Southern Command, contributing to a shortage of forces during the October 7 attacks. The court found no evidence supporting Harel’s claim and ordered him to pay Sukkot 35,000 shekels in damages plus legal costs, totaling about 45,000 shekels. Harel’s counterclaim was dismissed.

Sukkot’s latest threat of legal action led to Golan’s immediate deletion of the post before any lawsuit was filed. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over accusations related to IDF troop movements prior to the October 7 attacks and the political fallout involving military figures turned politicians.