In brief
The incident was captured on video, showing Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party, along with others, striking a memorial in the Palestinian village of Madama. The memorial honoured Palestinians killed in the 1968 Battle of Karameh and the intifadas, and Sukkot claimed it “glorified terrorism.” Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, condemned the act and the IDF said the attackers had acted without authorization. The episode highlights ongoing tensions in the West Bank where settler violence against Palestinians has escalated, raising concerns from military and political leaders about security and the country’s reputation.
A far‑right member of the Israeli parliament has badly damaged a Palestinian memorial with a sledgehammer in the occupied West Bank while under military escort.
Video footage shows Zvi Sukkot, a elected representative of the far‑right Religious Zionism party, striking a stone memorial in the Palestinian village of Madama. The monument, erected in 2008, commemorates Palestinians killed in the 1968 Battle of Karameh and during the first and second intifadas.
Sukkot, who has a history of provocative anti‑Palestinian acts, declared that the site “glorifies terrorism” and must be removed. He and others used a sledgehammer, damaging the stone structure while soldiers were present.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said soldiers had been present but that the group acted without authorization. Soldiers eventually stopped Sukkot and escorted him out of the village. The IDF criticised the unapproved assault and highlighted that in previous incidents they have stood by without intervening.
Israeli political leaders condemned the act. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the violence “reprehensible” and said it prevented the IDF from focusing on combatting terrorism. Rival candidate Gadi Eisenkot branded Sukkot’s behaviour a disgrace, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized what he saw as left‑wing outrage over the single act rather than the broader issue of settler violence.
The incident is part of a broader spike in settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. It has prompted Israeli officials, including Senior West Bank commander Major General Avi Bluth, to warn that unchecked violence could trigger a wider escalation.
