Israel bans entry of leaders of France's far-left party

In depth

Foreign and Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar has decided to bar the entry into Israel of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the "La France Insoumise" party, and of Mathilde Panot, head of its parliamentary group in the French National Assembly. The decision follows their statements against Israel and the party's anti-Israel policy.

In Jerusalem it was explained that the two are spreading blood libels and inciting against Israel and its citizens. The decision was made a few days after Mélenchon, a candidate for the French presidency, promised to send French ships to escort the flotillas to Gaza.

The decision comes a week after France banned the entry of Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, into its territory. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the Israeli decision and wrote: "This demagogic decision, coming from a government that has repeatedly violated international law". Mélenchon responded: "I was forbidden to enter a place I had no intention of visiting".