France, Allies Ban Israeli Minister and Settler Officials Over West Bank Violence

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, France has banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering its territory, strongly condemning his calls for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, new settlement construction in the region, and the “recolonization” of Gaza. Smotrich is among dozens of Israeli individuals sanctioned by France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway.

French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot announced on social media platform X that four officials associated with settler organizations and 21 violent settlers have also been prohibited from entering France. The French Foreign Minister stated that the decision to “impose new sanctions against those responsible for settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank” was made in coordination with the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway.

Smotrich is the second Israeli minister to be banned from entering France in recent months. In early June, the French Foreign Ministry announced that Israeli Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had been barred from entering French soil.