Extract from ABC News
Zvi Sukkot, a member of the Israeli Knesset, can be seen smashing a monument in Madama in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (Reuters: Yosi Reiner/Tzvi Sukkot's office)
In short:
Right-wing Israeli politician Zvi Sukkot has posted a video online showing him taking a sledgehammer to a memorial in the occupied West Bank.
The memorial bears the names of Palestinians killed over decades.
The Israeli military has criticised Mr Sukkot for "misusing" resources on the stunt, but not for the vandalism itself.
A right wing Israeli politician has recorded himself taking a sledgehammer to a Palestinian memorial in the occupied West Bank, after being escorted into the village by Israeli soldiers.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Zvi Sukkot of having "acted deceptively and manipulatively" in requesting its protection at the site, confirming it diverted resources to accompany Mr Sukkot only for him to carry out the vandalism.
The 35-year-old member of the Knesset posted video of his attempt to destroy the stone memorial in the town of Madama, south of the city of Nablus, arguing it was a "terror monument".
"Every child who sees a giant monument every day that glorifies Jewish murderers, dreams of being a terrorist," he said on social media.
"There is no place for support for terror in the State of Israel!"
Israel's occupation of the West Bank has been deemed unlawful by the International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion published in 2024.
Video of the incident from witnesses to the vandalism had already spread on social media by the time Mr Sukkot posted his own.
Those videos show soldiers watching on as Israeli settlers hit the monument, which memorialises Palestinians killed over decades, with a military vehicle parked nearby.
In a statement, the IDF said it had received an application for protection from Mr Sukkot earlier in August ahead of a tour of three West Bank villages.
"Contrary to the agreed-upon coordination, the participants acted deceptively and manipulatively, without authorisation, departing entirely from the approved framework, and began demolishing one of the monuments in Madama," it said.
"Upon identifying what was taking place, the soldiers reported the incident to their commanders, who instructed them to stop the activity, and the participants were quickly escorted out of the village.
"IDF soldiers assigned to operational missions in the area were diverted to this task and placed at unnecessary risk while the IDF is operating under significant operational strain."
IDF criticises 'misuse' of resources, but not destruction of memorial
The damaged monument in the West Bank village of Madama bears the names of Palestinians killed in the war. (AP: Majdi Mohammed)
The military criticism appeared to focus on the diversion of resources, rather than the vandalism itself.
The IDF said it viewed the situation with the "utmost severity", and accused Mr Sukkot of "misuse of the protection provided by security forces".
"It should be emphasised that the IDF regularly dismantles symbols of incitement, subject to all required approvals and in coordination with the Civil Administration, as has occurred several times in recent months and and an additional operation is planned for the near future," it said.
"These activities are an important component of the fight against terrorism and incitement to terrorism."
Israel's Prime Minister also condemned the incident — from the perspective of the strain it put on the military.
"The IDF is the sovereign in Judea and Samaria and is responsible for implementing the decisions of the political echelon," Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
"Taking the law into its own hands, especially by public figures, is wrong and prevents the IDF from focusing on its missions against terrorism and incitement."
Sukkot previously sanctioned for inciting violence against Palestinians
Zvi Sukkot is a member of the Religious Zionist party, led by right-wing finance minister Bezalel Smotrich — a man who has been sanctioned by the international community, including Australia, for inciting violence against Palestinians.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads the country's Religious Zionist Party. (Reuters: Ammar Awad)
Before entering politics, Mr Sukkot had been arrested on allegations of firebombing a mosque.
In 2024, he was among right-wing politicians who encouraged supporters to storm the notorious Sde Teiman detention facility in southern Israel after nine IDF reservists were arrested over the alleged brutal rape of a Palestinian detainee — an incident caught on CCTV, but later dropped by military prosecutors after immense political pressure.
Tensions in the area around Madama have been high in recent weeks, following a deadly shooting attack in the nearby village of Tell.
Two Israeli settlers and four Palestinians were killed in the incident — Israelis accusing the Palestinians of turning on them, while the Palestinians accused the settlers of being armed and aggressive.
The shooting prompted a large scale Israeli military operation in the area, detaining more than 100 Palestinians.
Israeli settlers in the area launched revenge attacks, destroying property and attacking residents.
Israeli media has reported the IDF having warned the Netanyahu government that the surge in settler violence has fuelled tensions in the West Bank, and it was effectively a tinderbox ready to blow.
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