Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Israeli Far-Right Lawmaker Damages Palestinian Memorial in West Bank
An Israeli lawmaker named Zvi Sukkot damaged a memorial in a Palestinian village.
He used a sledgehammer while Israeli soldiers were nearby.
Sukkot said the memorial praised people who had killed Jews.
The Israeli military said he had not been authorized to damage it and had misled the soldiers about his visit.
The military said troops were told to intervene after the damage began.
Video of the incident did not show soldiers stopping him at the time.
A Palestinian village leader said the action could lead to more attacks and fear.
Some Israeli politicians also condemned Sukkot’s behavior and questioned why soldiers were protecting the visit.
MK Zvi Sukkot used a sledgehammer to damage a Palestinian memorial in Madama, south of Nablus.
Sukkot said the monument glorified Palestinians who had killed Jews and should be removed.
The Israeli Defense Forces said the lawmaker acted outside an approved security-coordination plan and without authorization.
Madama council head Rami Nassar warned the incident could encourage settler attacks and further violence against Palestinians.
Israeli officials including Gideon Sa'ar, Yair Golan and Gilad Kariv criticized Sukkot or questioned the military’s role.
- Who
- Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot, Israeli soldiers, Palestinian residents of Madama and Israeli political critics.
- What
- Sukkot damaged a Palestinian memorial with a sledgehammer during a visit to the village.
- When
- Tuesday, August 25.
- Where
- Madama, a Palestinian village south of Nablus in the West Bank.
- Why
- Sukkot said the memorial glorified people who had killed Jews; Palestinian residents and Israeli critics said the act was unauthorized or could fuel further violence.
Critics and Palestinian Residents
Zvi Sukkot
Meaning of the memorial
Critics and Palestinian Residents
Rami Nassar rejected Sukkot’s claim that the memorial would encourage children to become terrorists and said the incident could inflame violence against Palestinians.
Zvi Sukkot
Sukkot said the monument glorified the killing of Jews and argued that it should be removed.
Authorization for the action
Critics and Palestinian Residents
The Israeli Defense Forces said Sukkot and his associates acted deceitfully, without authority and in violation of the approved security framework.
Zvi Sukkot
Sukkot proceeded with the damage during what had been presented as a tour of West Bank villages; the article does not report a separate public justification from him regarding military authorization.
Role of Israeli forces
Critics and Palestinian Residents
The military said troops were instructed to intervene and remove the group after the demolition began, while published footage did not show soldiers stopping the damage as it happened.
Zvi Sukkot
Sukkot traveled with military protection assigned to him and his aides; the article does not state that he responded to criticism of the soldiers’ conduct.
- Lawmaker
- Zvi Sukkot, a member of Israel’s ultranationalist Religious Zionist Party
- Location
- Madama, south of Nablus, in the West Bank
- Object damaged
- A memorial honoring Palestinians killed in past conflicts
- Military position
- The Israeli Defense Forces said Sukkot acted outside the approved framework and without authority
- Security detail
- Israeli forces had been assigned to protect Sukkot and his aides
- Palestinian reaction
- Madama council head Rami Nassar warned of possible increased raids, harassment and property damage
- Political reaction
- Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Yair Golan and Gilad Kariv criticized aspects of the incident