France bars Smotrich from entry as several countries impose sanctions

France, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway have decided to impose sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced today, Tuesday, saying that Smotrich is now barred from entering France.

Barrot attacked Smotrich over his promotion of annexation in Judea and Samaria, the construction of new settlements, the "re-colonization" of Gaza and the economic destruction of the Palestinian Authority, policies he described as unacceptable to most of the international community, which supports a two-state solution. France's ambassador to Israel, Frederic Journes, defended his country's decision in an interview on Kan News' "The International Hour" on Reshet Bet. According to him, several Western countries have already taken similar steps in the past against ministers in the Israeli government, but France refrained from doing so for a long time out of an understanding of the principle of collective responsibility within the Israeli government. However, he explained, "The spiral of violence in the West Bank has gotten out of control," and therefore France felt compelled to act. The ambassador added that France is a country of law and must be consistent in this matter. "Anyone who promotes, encourages or provides political cover for violence is not welcome here." According to him, the purpose of the move is to make clear that France cannot remain passive in the face of developments and must remain faithful to its values.

In addition to Smotrich, similar sanctions were also imposed on four heads of settler organizations and 21 violent settlers. According to Britain's announcement, its sanctions will be imposed on six organizations and one individual, the Farm Federation, Ahavat Gilad, Ari Yishag, Artzenu, Shivat Zion Lirgev Adama, the Eyal Har Judea company, and its owner Itamar Yehuda Levi. Last night Reuters reported that Italy had opened an investigation against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on suspicion of involvement in the way activists from the Gaza flotilla were treated last month. Last Friday, Ireland barred Ben Gvir and Smotrich from entering its territory, joining Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Spain.