Far-right Israeli Lawmaker Damages Palestinian Memorial with Sledgehammer

A far-right Israeli lawmaker, Zvi Sukkot, has sparked outrage after damaging a Palestinian memorial with a sledgehammer in the occupied West Bank. The incident, which was caught on video, shows Sukkot and several others striking the stone memorial in the Palestinian village of Madama under military escort. The memorial was erected in 2008 to remember Palestinians killed in the battle of Karameh and the first and second intifada.

The incident has drawn strong criticism from Palestinians and across the political spectrum in Israel, with many condemning Sukkot’s actions as a provocative and inflammatory act. The Israeli military said it had approved a tour of monuments in the area for Sukkot, but he and the others involved had acted deceptively and without authorisation.

• The memorial was erected in 2008 to remember Palestinians killed in the battle of Karameh and the first and second intifada.
• Zvi Sukkot, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, has a history of provocative anti-Palestinian acts.
• The Israeli military said it had approved a tour of monuments in the area for Sukkot, but he and the others involved had acted deceptively and without authorisation.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has issued a statement criticising Sukkot’s actions, saying that taking the law into one’s own hands is a reprehensible practice.

Madama Village Under Attack

Madama itself has been the target of several attacks by settlers, and the incident has further raised the temperature in the West Bank. The village council head, Rami Nasar, said that the monument was intended to honour those who had been killed in conflict with Israel, whatever their political affiliation.

The incident has also sparked a heated debate in Israel, with many calling for Sukkot to be held accountable for his actions.