Israel revokes visas of 27 French lawmakers and officials
Israel revoked the entry visas of 27 French lawmakers and officials just two days before their scheduled visit to the state and the occupied West Bank, the delegation has said.
Seventeen members of the group, including representatives from France’s Ecologist Party and the French Communist Party, condemned the move as “collective punishment” on Sunday and called on French President Emmanuel Macron to respond.
“The revocation of our permits to enter Israel 48 hours before our departure is a major breach of diplomatic ties with the French state and of our mandates as elected representatives of the republic,” the delegation said in a statement, according to Haaretz.
“It requires an unequivocal stance from the highest authorities of our state.”
Haaretz reported that the group had been due to arrive on Sunday and was informed of the decision the previous Thursday.
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The French consulate in Jerusalem had organised the five-day visit to promote “international cooperation and a culture of peace” across Israel and the Palestinian territories, the delegation said.
Israel’s Interior Ministry defended the decision, citing a law that allows authorities to deny entry to individuals who have publicly called for or participated in boycotts of Israel.
The ministry claimed the delegation aimed to “show support for the Palestinians and for an organisation that promotes a boycott of Israel and is working to remove Hamas from the terror organisation list.”
Camille Naget, a Paris councillor and member of the Ecologist Party, told Haaretz she was unaware of any such boycott calls made by the AJPF organisation the ministry was referring to, which she said promotes relations between French municipalities and Palestinian refugee camps, and denied it ever advocating for Hamas to be removed from the list of terror organisations.
The visa revocations come amid escalating diplomatic tensions, following recent remarks by Macron suggesting that France may soon recognise a Palestinian state.
He has also publicly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Ecologist and Communist parties have long backed the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu responded angrily to Macron’s comments, calling the potential recognition “a huge reward for terrorism”.
Earlier this month, Israel also barred entry to two British Labour Party MPs, drawing criticism from UK officials.
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