France bans Israel’s finance minister, slams him for promoting ‘recolonisation’ of Gaza

Summary

France on Tuesday banned Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entry, slamming the far-right politician’s calls for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, new settlements in the area and the “recolonisation” of Gaza. Smotrich was among dozens of Israelis who were slapped with sanctions by France, Britain, Canada, ​Australia, New Zealand and Norway.