Smotrich barred from France as six nations target Israeli leaders, communities in Judea and Samaria

The announcement came as France joined Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and New Zealand in unveiling coordinated sanctions targeting Israeli communities and individuals living in Judea and Samaria.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced Tuesday that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been barred from entering France, alongside four leaders of settler organizations and 21 individual settlers.

Barrot disclosed the measure in a post on X, where he outlined several criticisms of Smotrich and explained France’s position regarding the decision.

According to Barrot, the Israeli minister has promoted the annexation of Judea and Samaria and supported what he described as the “recolonization” of Gaza.

Barrot also accused Smotrich, who serves as both finance minister and a minister within the Defense Ministry, of advancing policies aimed at weakening the Palestinian Authority.

The French foreign minister further alleged that Smotrich was pushing for “the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority and its deleterious consequences on the Palestinian population.”

Barrot said such positions were incompatible with the views of countries supporting a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He wrote that these policies were something “the overwhelming majority of the international community, firmly committed to the two-state solution, cannot accept.”

The move places Smotrich among a group of Israeli figures facing restrictions announced by European governments as part of broader measures directed at settlement-related activity in Judea and Samaria.

Also on Tuesday, a coalition of six countries issued new sanctions on Israeli communities and individuals living in Judea and Samaria.

The top diplomats of Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Norway, and New Zealand announced the moves in a joint statement.

“Extremist violent settlers, with the backing of their supporters, continue to attack Palestinians and abuse their human rights,” they said. “For too long, violent settlers have been able to act with near impunity, and settlement expansion and creation of outposts continue with the support and facilitation of the government of Israel.”