France has imposed a ban on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, preventing him from entering the country, as part of coordinated sanctions with several allied nations over escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The move follows similar action taken earlier against Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was also barred from entering France after controversy surrounding his remarks and actions linked to a Gaza-bound aid flotilla incident.
Smotrich has already been subjected to travel restrictions by multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Slovenia and Ireland, as part of a broader international response targeting Israeli officials accused of inciting or enabling settlement expansion and violence.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the decision was driven by Smotrich’s public support for expanding settlements in the West Bank, advocating annexation, and promoting policies that undermine the prospects of a two-state solution. He stated that such positions are widely rejected by the international community.
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As part of the coordinated action, France also imposed sanctions on four leaders of settler organisations and 21 individuals linked to violent settler activity. The measures were taken in alignment with Britain, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand, all of which have targeted individuals and networks allegedly involved in escalating settlement-related violence.
Several partner countries, including the United Kingdom and Norway, have also introduced additional restrictions, including financial and travel limitations, and have urged private sector actors to avoid engagement with Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law.
The British Foreign Secretary said violent settler groups should not profit from land seized from Palestinians, adding that concerns over accountability remain despite Israel’s official condemnation of such violence.
Israel strongly rejected the sanctions, describing them as “disgraceful” and politically motivated. A foreign ministry spokesperson argued that the measures distort Israel’s position and the rights of Jews to live in the region.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir are key figures within Israel’s far-right political bloc and form an important part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition.
The sanctions come amid continuing violence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, where hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed since the escalation of conflict in October 2023.
A recent UN-backed inquiry has also warned of worsening conditions for civilians, stating that Palestinians are increasingly caught between multiple sources of violence, including military operations, settler activity and armed militant groups.
