The Media Line: IDF Condemns Israeli Lawmaker’s Destruction of Palestinian Monument

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IDF Condemns Israeli Lawmaker’s Destruction of Palestinian Monument

By The Media Line Staff

Member of Knesset Tzvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism) and several aides used sledgehammers Tuesday to damage a Palestinian memorial in Madama, near Nablus, during an Israel Defense Forces-guarded visit that Sukkot said was intended to challenge public glorification of terrorism. The IDF said the destruction was unauthorized and violated the conditions under which it had approved the tour.

Video showed members of the group striking the stone structure while soldiers and a military vehicle secured the area. Israeli reports described it as a memorial to Palestinians killed during the intifada, including members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed group affiliated with Fatah.

“Every child who sees every day a giant monument that glorifies murderers of Jews will dream of being a terrorist,” Sukkot wrote on X. He said he acted after repeatedly asking the military to remove what he called monuments to terrorism and described Tuesday’s action as “a small taste.”

The military said Sukkot requested permission on Aug. 12 to visit monuments in Beita, Burin and Madama, villages situated in Areas A and B of the West Bank. Those designations assign differing degrees of authority to the Palestinian Authority and Israel under agreements reached during the Oslo peace process.

According to the IDF, soldiers were diverted from operational assignments to protect Sukkot and his party. Once commanders learned that the group had begun damaging the monument, they ordered troops to end the visit and remove the participants.

The IDF said the group acted “deceptively and manipulatively, without authority and in complete violation of the approved outline.” It added that the military removes memorials and other material deemed to incite terrorism only after receiving authorization and coordinating with the Civil Administration.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned Sukkot’s conduct, saying the lawmaker “is not the sovereign in the territories of Judea and Samaria.” Sa’ar said decisions there must be taken by the state together with the security services. Opposition politicians also criticized the diversion of soldiers and called for an investigation.