The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, 4 leaders of settler organizations, and 21 other settlers “involved in acts of violence” from entering its territory.
In details, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that France, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway had imposed sanctions related to “acts of violence” in the occupied West Bank, and that is what those countries explained in a statement.
France had taken a similar decision in May against Israeli “Minister of National Security” Itamar Ben Gvir, who also belongs to the far right.
In turn, Ireland also banned the entry of Ben Gvir and Smotrich recently, and Britain also banned them from entering in June last year, before countries including Spain and Slovenia followed suit.
The Israeli newspaper “Maariv” quoted authorities’ estimates that the International Criminal Court in The Hague is expected to issue arrest warrants against three senior political officials: Katz, Smotrich and Ben Gvir.
In addition to them, and according to estimates reported by the newspaper, issuing arrest warrants is also being considered against two senior Israeli “army” commanders, namely Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and perhaps also the commander of the Southern Command, Yaniv Ashour.
