Israeli lawmaker smashes Palestinian memorial with sledgehammer during West Bank tour with IDF
A member of Israel’s parliament vandalized a memorial to dead Palestinians in the West Bank this week, generating intense backlash from all sides.
TL;DR
- Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot destroyed a memorial to dead Palestinians in the West Bank with a sledgehammer.
- Sukkot justified his actions by stating the memorial glorified terrorists and that he had previously requested its removal by the IDF.
- The IDF stated Sukkot acted deceitfully and manipulatively, without authority, and in violation of the tour's framework.
- The incident drew backlash from Palestinian leaders, who warned it could fuel further violence, and from Israeli political figures, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot.
- Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu for enabling such actions and damaging Israel's international standing.