Sledgehammer sovereignty: Zvi Sukkot’s vigilante stunt hurts Israeli security, law - editorial
Sukkot could have demanded its removal through the IDF, the government, or the courts. What he could not do was appoint himself judge, enforcement officer, and demolition crew.
Israel faces a dilemma regarding monuments that commemorate terror groups. While it's reasonable to oppose such monuments, equating a Knesset member's actions to vigilantism is misguided. MK Zvi Sukkot entered a West Bank village and helped destroy a monument that appeared to honor members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Palestinians killed during the intifada.
He argued that such memorials glorify terrorism and incite violence. While there's merit to this argument, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deemed Sukkot's actions as unauthorized and deceitful. An MK cannot exercise executive authority simply because he believes authorities have failed to act. He should have sought removal through proper channels such as the IDF, Civil Administration, government, or courts.
This incident underscores the distinction between law enforcement and vigilantism. Moreover, it carries a security cost, as troops are diverted from their primary duties to protect Sukkot and those accompanying him. The Prime Minister and Finance Minister have condemned the incident, emphasizing that IDF personnel should handle such situations.
This episode also touches on the broader issue of Jewish sovereignty. For centuries, Jews lived under the threat of persecution and without their own institutions. The creation of Israel granted Jews an army, government, courts, and police, thereby bestowing upon them the responsibility to remain within the law. Jewish strength and sovereignty are not synonymous with lawlessness.
The lesson for Israeli children should not be that laws can be bypassed when someone believes strongly enough. Instead, it should be that Jewish sovereignty means defending oneself while upholding the rule of law. This is a stronger message against our enemies than any sledgehammer action.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
