All educational institutions in the Arab city of Umm el-Fahm held a strike on Sunday in protest against MK Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionist Party)'s visit.

Sukkot's visit aimed at examining the educational programs, as part of his role chairing the Knesset Education Committee.

Locals defined it as "a clear and unacceptable provocation," and claimed that it was an attempt to exploit educational institutions for election propaganda and personal politics.

Sukkot claims that "declared terrorist organizations" are entering to lecture in schools in the city.

Sukkot held an Israeli flag in one hand and a poster of Raed Salah - the former mayor of Umm el-Fahm and leader of the banned northern branch of the Islamic Movement - in the other.

Sukkot said he wanted to deliver a message to the city's residents, saying "I am not your enemy. I am the chairman of the Knesset Education Committee and I came to inspect the education system. There is no Israeli flag on the main building as required by law, only three schools allow the Israel Police to enter citizenship classes and admit people like Raed Salah. If they continue, then we will make sure that not a single shekel of state money enters the schools here."

The claims that the city's educational institutions teach violence constitute "false and inconceivable accusations," the committees said.

According to them, the decision to keep the schools closed was intended to prevent friction, safeguard the security of the students and education staff, and protect the system from incitement.

"Zvi Sukkot is coming to Umm el-Fahm not in order to become acquanted or to learn, but in order to create a provocation and spread incitement and racism," he said.

"Sukkot is an inciting and racist hilltop youth. We will stand against his racism and not allow him to spread hatred. In Umm el-Fahm, there is room for brotherhood and a shared life, not for hatred and incitement," he stated.

Sukkot rejected the claims, saying that "Those who give a magnificent welcome to the great inciter to terrorism, Raed Salah, and close all the schools in the city only to prevent criticism and oversight by [me, as] the chairman of the Knesset Education Committee have forgotten who is the boss here. It is impossible not to ask what they are trying to hide."

An education system that operates according to the law and contains no incitement should not fear criticism. He claimed that the decision to shut down the city and the educational institutions only strengthens the need to enter schools, examine the educational materials, and ensure that the children of Israel are not exposed to content of hatred or support for terrorism.