France Bars Itamar Ben-Gvir From Entering the Country

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced this evening (*Shabbat*) that, starting today, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering France. The move comes in response to events documented during the detention of flotilla activists who were on their way to Gaza.

According to Barrot, "This decision was made בעקבות מעשיו הבלתי מתקבלים על הדעת כלפי אזרחים צרפתים ואירופים שהיו במשט לעזה. אנו מתנגדים ליוזמה של המשט הזה, שאינה מביאה כל תועלת מעשית ומעמיסה על השירותים הדיפלומטיים והקונסולריים, שעל מקצועיותם ומסירותם אני מבקש להביע הערכה. אך איננו יכולים להשלים עם כך שאזרחים צרפתים יהיו נתונים לאיומים, הפחדות או יחס אלים - ועוד מצד איש ציבור".

The French foreign minister added: "I note that these actions were condemned by a large number of senior government and political officials in Israel. They join a long list of shocking statements and actions, as well as incitement to hatred and violence against Palestinians. Like my Italian counterpart, I am also calling on the European Union to impose sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir."

At the center of the uproar is a video published by Ben-Gvir, in which he waved an Israeli flag above the flotilla activists and verbally berated them. The footage sparked sharp reactions around the world and triggered a wave of condemnations. More than 30 countries issued statements of condemnation, and at least ten Israeli ambassadors serving abroad were summoned for talks בעקבות האירוע.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized the minister's conduct and said his actions were "shameful," adding that Ben-Gvir "betrayed the honor of his country." Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also condemned the incident and said the minister's treatment of the detainees was "completely unacceptable."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has the right to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza, but clearly distanced himself from the minister's conduct. In a message he published, he wrote: "Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas by supporters of Hamas terror from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way Minister Ben-Gvir behaved toward the flotilla activists does not align with the values and norms of the State of Israel."