A controversial Israeli lawmaker, Zvi Sukkot, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, has faced widespread condemnation after damaging a Palestinian memorial in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred on Monday under military escort, with Sukkot wielding a sledgehammer against the stone monument in the village of Madama. The monument was erected in 2008 to commemorate Palestinians killed during the battle of Karameh and the first and second intifada. Rami Nasar, head of the village council in Madama, stated that the memorial honors those killed in conflict with Israel, regardless of political affiliation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed soldiers were present during the incident, stating they had approved a tour of monuments but claimed Sukkot and his group acted deceptively without authorization. The IDF further reported that soldiers eventually intervened to stop Sukkot's actions and escort his group out of Madama after reporting the incident to their commanders. Previous incidents involving settler violence have raised concerns about increasing attacks on Palestinians, with soldiers often observed standing by without intervening. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office criticized Sukkot's actions, stating that taking the law into one's own hands is a reprehensible practice hindering the IDF's focus on combating terrorism and incitement to violence. Netanyahu's rival in the upcoming general election, Gadi Eisenkot, also condemned Sukkot's behavior, while finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads the Religious Zionism party, criticized those condemning Sukkot over terrorism itself. The mounting violence by settlers has prompted concerns of a major escalation in the West Bank, with Madama itself being a frequent target of settler attacks.