France has banned the entry of Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich.

The French Foreign Minister Barro announced that France has banned the entry of Israel's Finance Minister Smotrich.

AFP reported that Baro posted on social media on Tuesday (June 9th) that Bezalel Smotrich "actively promoted the annexation of the West Bank and openly advocated for this position. At the same time, he pushed for the establishment of new settlements in the West Bank, re-colonization of Gaza, causing the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority and causing serious consequences for the Palestinian people."

France's sanctions are in line with those of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand, targeting "those responsible for the escalation of settlement activities and violent acts in the West Bank". "This policy is unacceptable to the vast majority of countries in the international community that firmly support the two-state solution."

Smotrich is the second Israeli government official to be banned from entering France in recent months. Previously, Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir was barred from entering the country on May 23rd, as he was accused of mocking the activists of the Gaza aid flotilla who were under detention.

France has also banned the entry of four leaders of the settler organization and 21 violent settlers.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are core members of the right-wing coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. They were banned from entering other five countries as early as last June because they were accused of inciting violence against Palestinians, especially in the occupied West Bank.