France bans Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and 25 others over West Bank annexation and Gaza 're-colonisation' promotion
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
France has banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, citing his promotion of West Bank annexation and the 're-colonisation' of Gaza. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced the ban, which also applies to four leaders of settler organizations and twenty-one violent settlers. Barrot condemned policies that are unacceptable to the international community committed to a two-state solution. The minister stated that these new sanctions, targeting those responsible for increased settlement-building and violence in the West Bank, are in coordination with Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. Smotrich, from the far-right Religious Zionist party, is the second Israeli minister France has banned recently; National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was banned last month. Both Ben Gvir and Smotrich are key figures in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government. Ireland, Britain, Spain, and Slovenia have also banned the two ministers.
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