IDF Chief Furious as MK Tzvi Sukkot Smashes Terrorist Memorial in West Bank Village

The Israeli military debated whether to assign security to MK Tzvi Sukkot during his planned "memorial tour" of three villages in the West Bank's Samaria region on August 25, 2026. Although the villages are in Area B, under Israeli security responsibility where the MK could have moved freely, the IDF deployed about ten soldiers led by a junior officer to accompany him due to heightened security concerns in Judea and Samaria.

Upon arriving at a memorial in the village of Madama, Sukkot and his entourage unexpectedly began smashing the monument with hammers. The soldiers, surprised by the act, reported that Sukkot shouted, "It is my right to break a terrorist's memorial." The unit commander consulted his superior and was ordered to immediately escort the MK out of the village. Despite initial resistance and demands for a few more minutes, Sukkot left the site under military escort.

The incident was reported in real time to IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who expressed anger over Sukkot's behavior. The army has issued a general directive prohibiting Knesset members from conducting tours in the West Bank during the election period, fearing such visits may serve political campaigning at the expense of military operations.

Following the event, Bezalel Smotrich, leader of Sukkot's party, contacted him to request prior coordination of future plans and to arrange a joint condemnation statement. The statement acknowledged that the memorial should have been dismantled long ago but emphasized that the IDF is responsible for carrying out such actions. The episode adds to tensions between political figures and the military amid ongoing security challenges in the region.