Researcher Criticizes IDF Over Failure to Remove Terrorist Memorial in West Bank Village

Elhanan Gruner, an investigator for the Israeli outlet "The Jewish Voice," revealed the existence of a memorial honoring terrorists in the West Bank village of Madama near Yitzhar and the Gilad road. Gruner exposed the memorial after monitoring Arab social media, noting it commemorates several terrorists, including a senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) military leader responsible for multiple attacks during the Second Intifada, such as the Gah Junction suicide bombing that killed four Israelis. This terrorist was killed in a firefight with the IDF in Nablus, during which an Israeli naval commando officer was also killed.

Gruner criticized the IDF for failing to act against the memorial, despite his repeated reports and even raising the issue directly with the commander of the Judea and Samaria Division during a shiva ceremony for a fallen friend. He said the IDF initially promised to investigate but later claimed they could not locate the memorial, which he called a "poor excuse" given its prominent location on a main village route regularly patrolled by Israeli forces.

Following Gruner's revelations, Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot entered Madama and began demolishing the memorial with a hammer, sparking political controversy and IDF briefings condemning the act. Gruner said while Sukkot’s action brought attention to the issue, it should have been the IDF’s responsibility to remove the memorial without delay. He also dismissed claims that a planned demolition required extensive preparation, arguing that a bulldozer could remove the small structure within minutes.

Gruner highlighted that the Madama memorial is not an isolated case, mentioning similar terrorist memorials in other West Bank villages like Burin. He called for a systematic IDF policy to demolish all such sites immediately upon identification by intelligence or patrols. He warned that the lack of official action creates a vacuum that leads individuals to take matters into their own hands, emphasizing the need for coordinated military and political leadership to address the issue consistently.

"Bring a bulldozer and demolish it," Gruner said, urging the IDF to act decisively against all terrorist memorials in the West Bank to prevent glorification of those who killed Israelis.

Summary: Elhanan Gruner exposed a terrorist memorial in the West Bank village of Madama and criticized the IDF for failing to remove it despite repeated reports. Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot later demolished the memorial, prompting political controversy. Gruner called for a systematic IDF policy to demolish all such terrorist memorials promptly to prevent glorification of attackers.

Points: - Elhanan Gruner revealed a terrorist memorial in Madama honoring PFLP militants responsible for deadly attacks. - Gruner reported the memorial to the IDF, which claimed it could not locate the site. - Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot demolished the memorial, sparking political backlash. - Gruner criticized the IDF for inaction and called for immediate demolition of all terrorist memorials. - He warned that official failure creates a vacuum leading to unilateral actions by civilians. - Similar memorials exist in other West Bank villages, requiring systematic IDF policy.

Topic: security israel_relevant: true entities: {"people":["Elhanan Gruner","Tzvi Sukkot"],"organizations":["IDF","Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine","The Jewish Voice","Judea and Samaria Division"],"places":["Madama","West Bank","Yitzhar","Gilad road","Nablus","Burin"]}