Religious Zionism Lawmaker Faces Backlash After Destroying Palestinian Memorial
On Tuesday, Religious Zionism party members sharply criticized Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot after he was filmed demolishing a memorial in a Palestinian village. The footage showed Sukkot exiting a vehicle with another individual, wielding a hammer and striking the monument in the middle of a Palestinian street. A military vehicle blocked the road while soldiers secured the area. Sukkot also recorded the incident on his phone as others joined in destroying the memorial.
Sukkot defended his actions in a statement, saying he had recently demanded the Israeli military remove memorials honoring terrorists in the villages of Duma and Burin, but they remained. He said, "My message is clear: we will not allow those who harmed Jews and IDF soldiers to be commemorated as heroes or role models for the next generation." He emphasized the need to prevent glorification of terrorism in Palestinian communities.
The IDF Spokesperson responded that on August 12, Sukkot requested a "memorial tour" in several villages in the Samaria Division located in Areas A and B. The tour was conducted under military protection, but participants acted without authorization and contrary to the approved plan by destroying a memorial in Duma. The military ordered the destruction to stop and removed those involved from the village. The IDF condemned the unauthorized actions, calling them a serious breach and misuse of military security forces.
The army added that it regularly demolishes inciting memorials with proper approvals and coordination with the Civil Administration, as part of ongoing efforts against terrorism and incitement. The IDF stressed that the diversion of troops for this unauthorized mission occurred amid operational pressures.
Religious Zionism faction leader Ohad Tal questioned whether the incident was part of a coordinated campaign or a political misstep, asking, "Have we decided to politically self-destruct?" The controversy highlights tensions over memorials and security policy in the West Bank.
Summary: Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot faced criticism after destroying a Palestinian memorial during a military-protected tour in the West Bank. The IDF condemned the unauthorized destruction and emphasized ongoing efforts to remove inciting monuments legally. Religious Zionism leaders questioned the political implications of Sukkot's actions.
