Finance Minister Smotrich Defends MK Sukkot's Destruction of Terrorist Monument in West Bank

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the controversy surrounding MK Tzvi Sukkot's demolition of a terrorist monument in the West Bank village of Madama. Smotrich stated that the Israeli government should have dismantled the monument long ago, emphasizing that dozens of similar terrorist memorials across Judea and Samaria should be destroyed immediately by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alone. He condemned the monument for glorifying a terrorist responsible for killing four Jews and injuring 20 innocent Israelis.

Smotrich criticized left-wing opposition leaders for condemning MK Sukkot rather than focusing on the terrorism itself. He accused his political rivals of planning to form a government with "clear supporters of terror," which he claimed would lead to evacuations of settlements and farms in Judea and Samaria and the establishment of a "terror state" in Israel's heartland. He warned that this scenario should deeply concern every sane and life-loving Israeli.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Sukkot's actions, stating that the IDF is the sovereign authority in Judea and Samaria and responsible for implementing government decisions. He called taking the law into one's own hands, especially by public officials, unacceptable and disruptive to the IDF's focus on combating terror and incitement.