Knesset Education Committee chair MK Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism) toured schools in Umm al-Fahm on Sunday despite a municipal strike called to protest his visit. Sukkot hung an Israeli flag, saying terrorist organizations would not enter schools. MK Youssef Jebareen (Hadash) confronted him, accusing him of provocation, and Sukkot retorted by asking why convicted terrorist Raed Salah speaks in local schools.
Sunday afternoon in Umm al-Fahm, MK Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism), chair of the Knesset Education Committee, succeeded in entering schools and hanging an Israeli flag on site, after a morning attempt was blocked by protesters. His office said he declared "Terrorist organizations will not enter schools." During the visit, MK Youssef Jebareen (Hadash) confronted Sukkot, accusing him of provocation; Sukkot retorted by asking why convicted terrorist Raed Salah speaks in local schools.
As The Zioneer reported at 12:02 Jerusalem, Sukkot arrived in Umm al-Fahm around noon and was initially prevented from entering a school amid protests, according to journalist Oren Ravid (N12). The city's schools had declared a strike in response to the visit. By the afternoon, Sukkot managed to proceed with the tour, hanging the flag and clashing with Jebareen. The thread has evolved from a single-source report of a blocked attempt to a confirmed on-the-ground confrontation involving two MKs.
This visit is the latest in a series of Sukkot's school inspections in Arab communities. As The Zioneer reported on June 20, 2026, the Umm al-Fahm mayor convened an emergency meeting over the planned visit and called it "absurd" during summer break. A June 24 bulletin noted Sukkot issued an open invitation to educational teams. Earlier this month, Sukkot visited schools in East Jerusalem (June 18, 25) and Shuafat (June 11), citing concerns over incitement and terror links.
The exact number of schools Sukcot visited and whether all proceeded without disruption remain unconfirmed. It is also unclear whether the Israeli flag was displayed at multiple schools or a single one.
4 developments
- DevelopingMK Jebareen accuses MK Sukkot of inciting against Umm al-Fahm ahead of planned visit
- StrongUmm al-Fahm mayor slams MK Sukkot school tour as 'absurd' during summer break
- DevelopingMK Zvi Sukkot invites educational teams to tour Umm al-Fahm schools
- DevelopingUmm al-Fahm mayor convenes emergency meeting over planned MK Sukkot school visit
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