IDF Removes Madama Monument Damaged by Lawmaker in August

The Israeli military removed a stone monument in the village of Madama on Monday night. The structure stood in the Nablus area of the West Bank. It had been damaged in August by Religious Zionist Party MK Zvi Sukkot. The IDF launched a counterterrorism operation in the region at the same time. Soldiers targeted wanted suspects and weapons during the raid.

Sukkot and several others were filmed destroying the monument in August. They were accompanied by Israeli soldiers during the incident. The monument honored members of the al-Aqsa brigade and Palestinians killed during the intifada. Sukkot defended the destruction at the time. He said he had repeatedly asked the IDF to remove structures he called glorifications of terrorists.

"Every child who sees every day a giant monument that glorifies murderers of Jews will dream of being a terrorist," Sukkot wrote on X/Twitter in August. He claimed the act was a "small taste" of necessary action. He added that there was no place for support of terror in the State of Israel.

The IDF condemned the August incident immediately after it occurred. The military stated that Sukkot and his group acted without authorization. They violated the terms of their coordinated visit. The IDF said it regularly removes symbols of incitement. These removals require necessary approvals and coordination with the Civil Administration.

Political leaders reacted to Sukkot's actions in August. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the unauthorized destruction unacceptable. He said the IDF is the sovereign authority in Judea and Samaria. He noted that taking the law into one's own hands hinders the military's missions. Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot called Sukkot a violent provocateur. B'Yachad leader Naftali Bennett accused the government of undermining Israel's standing to rack up views on TikTok.

Rami Nassar, the head of the Kafr Madama village council, warned that the incident could fuel further violence. He asked what residents could expect from other radical settlers after such an official act. He said it could lead to more raids and harm to property. Nassar also criticized Netanyahu's condemnation, stating that words are not enough. He called for measures to protect Palestinian residents.

The monument's removal marks the end of a dispute that began in August. The IDF confirmed the structure was targeted as part of the broader Monday night operation. The military continues to search for weapons and suspects in the area.