Knesset Member Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionist Party, accompanied by several individuals, smashed a monument in the West Bank town of Kafr Madama near Nablus. Footage of the incident circulated on social media and was shared by Israeli outlets on Tuesday morning.
Sukkot confirmed his role in destroying the monument via a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Every child who sees a giant monument glorifying murderers of Jews every day will dream of becoming a terrorist.”
He stated that he took action after repeatedly appealing to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remove what he described as “terror monuments throughout the area,” calling the destruction of a monument in Dheisheh “just a small taste.”
“There is no place for supporting terror in the State of Israel!” he added.
In the footage, Sukkot is seen filming the incident on his personal phone while another individual strikes the monument with a sledgehammer. Israeli forces are visible guarding the Knesset member and his companions, with a military vehicle blocking the nearby street.
A security source reported to Army Radio that while the visit to the West Bank village was coordinated with the IDF, the act of smashing the monument was clearly not authorized.
The Jerusalem Post has reached out to the IDF and the Religious Zionist Party for comment.
Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats, criticized Sukkot’s actions, writing, “This is a person who belongs behind bars, not in the Knesset of Israel.” Golan argued that Sukkot’s provocations diverted IDF resources to the West Bank on the eve of the October 7 attacks.
He continued, “In the upcoming elections, Kahanists and messianists must be removed from positions of power, and Israel must be returned to its proper path. They seek eternal war. We will fight for a secure, democratic, and sane state.”
MK Gilad Kariv of The Democrats also condemned the incident, noting that the military had previously denied requests to escort Sukkot to Kusra due to a lack of available forces.
Kariv wrote, “It turns out there are forces available to escort an arsonist to the heart of a Palestinian village. Just yesterday, the Central Command commander warned that it would take just one match to ignite the West Bank. Tzvi Sukkot eagerly charges into this role.”
Protest Breaks Out in Rahat During Sukkot’s Visit
Approximately two weeks ago, a protest erupted in Rahat during an official visit by Sukkot as part of an oversight tour by the Knesset Education Committee. The visit was accompanied by police and Knesset security personnel.
During the tour, local residents shouted insults at Sukkot, calling him “a complete zero” and asking, “What do you have to teach our children?” He was labeled a “provocateur” and told, “In Rahat? Go teach yourself.”
The visit was part of a series of oversight tours by the Education Committee across the country, designed to closely examine the operations of educational institutions, the implementation of committee decisions, and how the education system handles challenges such as violence, crime, and incitement.
Despite attempts to disrupt the tour through protests, the visit proceeded under reinforced security, and Sukkot completed his scheduled itinerary.
This is a developing story.
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