France Bans Israeli Finance Minister Over Gaza Recolonization Push
France has banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country over his support for West Bank annexation and Gaza recolonization policies that Paris says undermine peace prospects.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the ban on Tuesday, according to Brussels Signal, making France the latest Western nation to target senior officials in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government with punitive measures.
In a statement posted on social media, Barrot accused Smotrich of backing the annexation of the West Bank and the recolonization of Gaza, as well as promoting new settlement construction and policies that would lead to the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority. He argued that such positions harm the Palestinian population and are unacceptable to the international community.
Smotrich is now the second Israeli cabinet minister barred from entering France in recent weeks, following National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was banned in May. France also blacklisted four leaders of settler organizations and 21 individuals accused of violence in the West Bank.
Coordinated Western Sanctions
The ban is part of a broader coordinated effort by Western governments to sanction Israeli officials and settlers accused of participating in or facilitating violence in the West Bank. France has joined Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway in targeting networks that finance and enable attacks by settlers.
Britain stated that settlement expansion fuels violence and erodes the viability of a two-state solution. London called on Israel to crack down on settler violence and halt settlement construction, warning it would not hesitate to take further action if the situation fails to improve.
Critics of Israel’s policies argue that the government has turned a blind eye to settler violence, and in some cases tacitly endorsed it, leading to escalating tensions and attacks.
Israel Condemns Move as Anti-Semitic
Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected what it called disgraceful measures against Israeli citizens and a sitting government minister. The ministry accused the sanctioning nations of attempting to impose a political stance on Jewish settlement rights in what it described as the Land of Israel, disguised as anti-violence measures.
Jerusalem also slammed the countries for what it characterized as their resounding failure to combat rampant anti-Semitism within their own borders, framing the sanctions as part of a broader anti-Israel campaign that fuels anti-Jewish hatred.
France Toughens Stance
The decision signals a further deterioration in relations between Paris and the current Israeli government. France has long positioned itself as a champion of the two-state framework and has become increasingly critical of settlement expansion and Israeli conduct in both Gaza and the West Bank.
The travel ban and accompanying sanctions reflect mounting frustration among European capitals over what they view as policies that make peace negotiations impossible and entrench occupation.
With information from Brussels Signal
