Nov 12, 7:01 PM
France Denies Entry to Prominent Israeli Settler Leader Yossi Dagan
Paris cites West Bank settlement activities while Israel demands an explanation
French authorities turned back Yossi Dagan, a prominent Israeli settler leader and member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, upon his arrival at a Paris airport last week. The Israeli government criticized the administrative entry ban on Wednesday, describing the decision as completely unacceptable.
According to statements from Dagan’s office, border control officials at the airport questioned him before issuing an administrative ban on his entry into French territory. The French Foreign Ministry cited his direct involvement in implementing settlement policy in the West Bank as the reason for the measure, stating that settlement expansion violates international law and impedes a two-state solution. Dagan stated on Wednesday that he remained undeterred by the French sanction and intended to continue his work in the West Bank.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the entry refusal was based on political and ideological motives rather than security concerns. The ministry announced that the Israeli government will demand a detailed explanation from French authorities and determine its diplomatic response following those consultations.
The incident occurs alongside growing diplomatic measures by European governments targeted at Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Earlier this year, France issued entry bans against two far-right members of the Israeli cabinet, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. In September, France joined 11 other countries in committing to restrict commercial activities connected to settlements.
Legislative action on trade restrictions is currently progressing through the French parliament. On Monday, a parliamentary committee approved a bill designed to ban imports of goods and services produced in West Bank settlements. The full parliamentary discussion regarding the draft law is scheduled to take place on November 19.
Data published by the Israeli organisation Peace Now indicates that about 750,000 Israelis currently live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem across 163 settlements. The upcoming parliamentary vote in Paris on November 19 represents the next formal step in France's proposed trade restrictions against those settlements.
Written by Sandy van Dongen sandy.vandongen@alpineweekly.com
