West Bank Security: IDF Demolishes Nablus Monument Damaged by Lawmaker

The Israel Defense Forces removed a monument in the Nablus area on Monday night, concluding a dispute that began when a lawmaker damaged the structure in August. The military launched a counterterrorism operation targeting wanted suspects, weapons, and sites commemorating terrorists.

The specific site is located in the village of Madama. The monument appeared to honor members of the al-Aqsa brigade and Palestinians killed during the intifada. KAN News reported the removal on Tuesday, noting the operation included arrests and searches for arms.

Religious Zionist Party MK Zvi Sukkot was filmed in August damaging the monument while accompanied by Israeli soldiers. He stated at the time that he had repeatedly appealed to the IDF to remove structures glorifying terrorists. Sukkot argued that visible monuments encouraged local youth to dream of becoming terrorists.

The military subsequently condemned Sukkot's actions, stating he and his group acted without authorization. The IDF said it violated the terms of a coordinated visit. The service noted that it regularly removes symbols of incitement subject to approvals and coordination with the Civil Administration.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the unauthorized destruction. He affirmed that the IDF is the sovereign authority in Judea and Samaria and responsible for implementing political decisions. Netanyahu stated that taking the law into one's own hands hinders the military's focus on terrorism and incitement.

Opposition figures also weighed in on the incident. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, called Sukkot a violent provocateur who misled the military. Naftali Bennett, leader of the B'Yachad party, accused the government of undermining Israel's standing to gain social media views. Rami Nassar, head of the Kafr Madama village council, warned that the actions of an official politician could encourage other radical settlers to raid and harass residents.