France Bans Israel’s Finance Minister Amid Settler Violence
PARIS: France has officially banned Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country. This decision, announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, is part of a coordinated effort with nations like Britain, Canada, Australia, Norway, and New Zealand to address rising violence against Palestinians.
Barrot emphasized that Smotrich has been a strong advocate for escalating settlement activities in the West Bank and aims to annex the region. He expressed concern about the impact of these policies on the Palestinian people, stating that they are unacceptable to the majority of the international community committed to a two-state solution.
This is not the first time France has restricted entry for Israeli officials. Earlier this year, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was also banned for making light of activists detained in an aid flotilla heading to Gaza. Additionally, France has placed bans on four leaders of settler organizations and 21 individuals known for violent actions.
Following France’s lead, Norway has announced that it will implement similar sanctions, including a ban on entry for 20 violent settlers, as part of its commitment to support Palestinians. The United Kingdom has echoed these sentiments, urging businesses and citizens to avoid any financial dealings in Israeli settlements that violate international law. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted that profits from seized land should not benefit violent settler groups.
In response to these sanctions, Israel’s foreign ministry labeled the actions as disgraceful, claiming that they attempt to impose a political stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ministry argues that these measures are merely a thinly veiled attempt to undermine Israel’s right to settle in the region.
Both Ben Gvir and Smotrich had previously faced similar bans from other countries, including Spain, Slovenia, and Ireland, due to alleged incitement of violence against Palestinians.
The ongoing conflict has intensified since Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched attacks on Israel in October 2023. Since then, violence in the West Bank has escalated significantly, with reports indicating that Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 Palestinians, including non-combatants, while Israeli casualties from Palestinian attacks have also occurred.
A recent United Nations inquiry reported that Palestinian civilians are trapped amidst significant violence from both Israeli forces and the harsh rule of Hamas in Gaza.
