A sledgehammer strike in Madama sparks far‑reaching fallout
In a harrowing clip released today, Israel’s far‑right Religious Zionism party member Zvi Sukkot swung a sledgehammer against a stone memorial in the Palestinian village of Madama in the West Bank. The memorial, erected in 2008 to remember Palestinians killed in the 1968 Battle of Karameh and subsequent intifadas, was severely damaged while an IDF escort was on site.
Sukkot, known for a history of provocative anti‑Palestinian acts, justified his actions by declaring that the monument “cannot be allowed to stand here because it glorifies terrorism.” The footage shows a group of soldiers standing by until the incident was reported to commanders, after which they stopped the MP and escorted him and others out of the village.
The IDF said the violent act was unapproved and that soldiers had acted deceptively. Palestinian villagers, led by council head Rami Nasar, expressed shock that a symbol meant to honor victims of the conflict had been destroyed, stressing that the memorial honored those murdered irrespective of affiliation.
Israeli officials condemned the act. President Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the MP’s “taking the law into his own hands” undermines the IDF’s mission and global standing. Opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot called the action a disgrace and urged that Netanyahu prevent such anarchy. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the left’s quick condemnation, calling for focus on terrorism itself.
The incident fuels growing concerns over settler violence, as reports indicate an uptick in attacks that have drawn international condemnation. Senior IDF commander Major General Avi Bluth warned that unchecked settler aggression could ignite a broader escalation in the region.
