France Bars Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich Over Settlement Comments

BAGHDAD, Iraq — France has banned entry to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over his advocacy for annexing the West Bank and calls for resettlement in Gaza, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday. The ban is part of new French sanctions targeting individuals responsible for settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank. Barrot said France also barred four settlement organization leaders and 21 settlers accused of violent acts in the territory. France joins Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway in implementing similar entry bans. Smotrich, from the far-right Religious Zionism party, is the second Israeli minister France has banned in recent months. Last month, France barred National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.