Smotrich defends Sukkot, blasts ‘frantic rush of the left’ to condemn MK for smashing Palestinian monument

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich partially defends MK Zvi Sukkot, a member of his Religious Zionism party, following widespread condemnation of the hard-right lawmaker’s actions in smashing a Palestinian monument for “martyrs” in the West Bank village of Madama.

“The State of Israel should have long ago dismantled the terrorism monument that glorifies the despicable terrorist responsible for the murder of four Jews and the injury of 20 innocent Israelis. Similarly, there are dozens of other terrorism monuments throughout Judea and Samaria that need to be destroyed today by the IDF, and by it alone,” he says, appearing to agree with critics that such actions should only be taken by the military.

Despite this, “what should truly disturb us is the frantic rush of the left-wing opposition leaders to condemn MK Sukkot rather than terrorism itself,” Smotrich continues, accusing the opposition of intending to “form a government with overt supporters of terrorism, evacuate the settlements and farms we have established in Judea and Samaria, and establish a terrorist state in the heart of the country.

“That is the only thing that should disturb any sane person who desires to live in the State of Israel today,” he adds.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle issued harsh condemnations of Sukkot this morning. Critics reportedly include Religious Zionism faction chair Ohad Tal, who, according to Channel 12, questioned his colleague’s behavior in an internal party forum, asking if there was “some deep strategy here that I’m completely missing, or did we just decide to commit suicide for good?”