Far-right Israeli lawmaker destroys Palestinian memorial with sledgehammer

A far-right Israeli lawmaker damaged a Palestinian memorial in the occupied West Bank on Sunday while under military escort, according to video footage and local officials. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from Palestinian leaders and critics across Israel's political spectrum.

Zvi Sukkot, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, was filmed striking a stone memorial in the Palestinian village of Madama with a sledgehammer. Sukkot, who has a history of anti-Palestinian activism, stated in the video that the memorial could not be left standing because it "glorifies terrorism." The structure commemorates Palestinians killed in the 1968 Battle of Karameh—a day-long conflict involving Israeli forces, the PLO, and Jordan—as well as those who died in the first and second intifadas.

Rami Nasar, head of Madama’s village council, said the monument was intended to honor Palestinians killed in conflict with Israel, regardless of political affiliation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that soldiers were present during the incident but stated that Sukkot and his group had acted without authorization. The military said it had approved a tour of nearby monuments and was providing security, but that Sukkot’s actions were deceptive and unauthorized.

Soldiers eventually stopped the group and escorted them out of Madama after reporting the incident to commanders. This follows previous instances where Israeli forces have been filmed failing to intervene during settler violence in the West Bank, where tensions have risen amid increased attacks by settlers on Palestinians in recent months.

The incident has further strained an already volatile situation in the West Bank, where international condemnation has grown over rising settler violence. Madama itself has been the target of multiple attacks by settlers in recent years.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement criticizing Sukkot’s actions, calling vigilantism by public figures "reprehensible" and warning that it undermines the IDF’s counterterrorism efforts. Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s main electoral rival, condemned Sukkot’s behavior as "a disgrace" and accused the prime minister of enabling extremists who harm Israel’s security and global standing.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of Sukkot’s Religious Zionism party, dismissed the criticism, arguing that the focus should be on terrorism rather than Sukkot’s actions. Meanwhile, *Haaretz* reported that Major General Avi Bluth, the IDF’s top West Bank commander, privately warned Netanyahu that escalating settler violence risks provoking a broader conflict.