MK Tzvi Sukkot Defends Destroying Terrorist Monument in West Bank Amid Political Backlash

MK Tzvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party publicly responded to the controversy following his demolition of a monument honoring terrorists in the West Bank village of Madama. In an interview on Tuesday, Sukkot criticized both the Israeli military and political opposition for their condemnation of his actions. He directly challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call against taking the law into one’s own hands, urging him instead to order the destruction of such monuments, which he said endanger Jewish lives.

Sukkot described the monument as glorifying terrorists responsible for killing and injuring dozens of Israelis, including suicide bomber Shadi Nasser. He emphasized that the village is known for producing terrorists and that the monument served as a tool encouraging violence against Jews. He accused the IDF of dragging its feet under the pretext of logistical planning and claimed he had provided the military with precise locations of other similar monuments that remain standing.

The MK also criticized opposition leaders, accusing them of focusing their efforts on opposing the destruction of terrorist memorials rather than combating incitement. He singled out Democratic Party leader Yair Golan, who had condemned the act and threatened legal action, calling him a "small keyboard hero" after Golan deleted a critical tweet. The incident sparked a broad political and security debate, with Netanyahu and other coalition members condemning Sukkot’s unilateral action as undermining military authority and security efforts in the West Bank.

Sukkot’s demolition of the monument has intensified tensions between right-wing activists and the military, as well as between coalition and opposition factions, highlighting the contentious issue of how to handle symbols that glorify terrorism in contested areas.