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Shafaq News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
French leftists cry foul as Israel nixes visit
Shafaq News/ Israel canceled entry visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials just days before their scheduled visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Prominent members of the delegation included National Assembly deputies François Ruffin, Alexis Corbière, and Julie Ozenne, as well as Communist Senator Marianne Margate. The group warned the decision 'cannot be without consequences' and demanded a meeting with Macron. Affiliated with France's Ecologist and Communist parties, the lawmakers revealed in a joint statement that their visas—initially approved a month earlier—were revoked under an Israeli law permitting bans on individuals deemed likely to act against the state. The five-day visit, organized in coordination with the French consulate in Jerusalem, was intended to promote 'international cooperation and a culture of peace.' They condemned the visa cancellations as 'collective punishment' and a 'major rupture in diplomatic ties,' urging the French government to intervene. The MPs also noted that their parties have for decades called for recognition of a Palestinian state. Tensions between France and Israel escalated after Macron declared that France may recognize a Palestinian state at a June peace conference. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the move, calling it a 'huge reward for terrorism.' Israel has recently blocked several European officials from entry, including Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan and Irish MEP Lynn Boylan, both denied entry in February.
Al Arabiya
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel cancels visas for French lawmakers
Israel's government canceled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials two days before they were to start a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday, the group said. The action came only days after Israel stopped two British members of parliament from the governing Labour party from entering the country. It also came amidst diplomatic tensions after President Emmanuel Macron said France would soon recognize a Palestinian state. Macron has in turn sought to pressure Netanyahu over conditions in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. Israel's interior ministry said visas for the 27 had been canceled under a law that allows authorities to ban people who could act against the state of Israel. Seventeen members of the group, from France's Ecologist and Communist parties, said they had been victims of 'collective punishment' by Israel and called on Macron to intervene. They said in a statement that they had been invited on a five-day trip by the French consulate in Jerusalem. They had intended to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of their mission to 'strengthen international cooperation and the culture of peace,' they added. 'For the first time, two days before our departure, the Israeli authorities cancelled our entry visas that had been approved one month ago,' they said. "We want to understand what led to this sudden decision, which resembles collective punishment,' said the group. 'Major rupture' The delegation included National Assembly deputies Francois Ruffin, Alexis Corbiere and Julie Ozenne from the Ecologist party, Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha and Communist senator Marianne Margate. The other members were left-wing town mayors and local lawmakers. The statement denounced the ban as a 'major rupture in diplomatic ties.' 'Deliberately preventing elected officials and parliamentarians from traveling cannot be without consequences,' the group said, demanding a meeting with Macron and action by the government to ensure Israel let them into the country. The group said their parties had for decades called for recognition of a Palestinian state, which Macron said last week could come at an international conference in June. Israeli authorities this month detained British members of parliament Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed at Tel Aviv airport and deported them, citing the same reason. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the action 'unacceptable.' In February, Israel stopped two left-wing European parliament deputies, Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan from Ireland, from entering. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted with fury to France's possible recognition of a Palestinian state. He said establishing a Palestinian state next to Israel would be a 'huge reward for terrorism.'
The National
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israel revokes visas for French MPs as ties sour
A group of 27 French left-wing MPs and local officials say Israel has revoked their visas just two days before they were due to visit the country and the Palestinian territories. The block on their trip comes after Israel earlier this month prevented two British legislators from entering, as diplomatic ties with some European nations sour over the war in Gaza. Israel's barring of the left-leaning politicians also coincides with efforts by its leaders to cultivate closer relationships with Europe's far right. Seventeen of the French politicians, who are members of France's Ecologist and Communist parties, told AFP news agency they had been victims of 'collective punishment' by Israel and called on French President Emmanuel Macron to intervene. They said they had been invited on a five-day trip by the French consulate in Jerusalem. The group had intended to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of efforts to 'strengthen international co-operation and the culture of peace', they added. 'For the first time, two days before our departure, the Israeli authorities cancelled our entry visas that had been approved one month ago,' they said. Israel's interior ministry said the visas had been cancelled under a law that allows authorities to ban people who could act against Israel. The French delegation included National Assembly deputies Francois Ruffin, Alexis Corbiere and Julie Ozenne from the Ecologist party, Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha and Communist senator Marianne Margate. The others are left-wing town mayors and local legislators. The group said the ban constituted a 'major rupture in diplomatic ties' between France and Israel. 'Deliberately preventing elected officials and parliamentarians from travelling cannot be without consequences,' the group said. They demanded action by the French government to ensure Israel let them enter. Mr Macron this month said France would soon recognise a Palestinian state and he has tried to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to improve the harsh conditions faced by Gazans amid the Israel-Gaza war. Mr Netanyahu reacted with fury to Mr Macron's comment. He said establishing a Palestinian state next to Israel would be a 'huge reward for terrorism'. The group of French politicians said the political parties they belonged to had for decades called for recognition of a Palestinian state. Earlier this month, Israeli authorities detained two British members of parliament, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, at Tel Aviv airport before deporting them, saying the pair could act against the state of Israel. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the move 'unacceptable'. The two MPs from Britain's governing Labour Party were refused entry because they intended to spread 'hateful rhetoric' against Israel and the Israeli population, the Interior Ministry said. In February, Israel also stopped two left-wing European parliament deputies from entering, Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan from Ireland. While banning left-leaning politicians, Israel has at the same time been forging increasingly close ties with Europe's far right. Mr Netanyahu flew to Hungary this month to meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a leader in the vanguard of Europe's right wing. Despite Mr Orban facing accusations of playing off anti-Semitic tropes to appeal to his political base, Mr Netanyahu has openly praised the Hungarian leader. The Hungary trip highlighted a strained relationship between Israel and other allies and overseas groups who have been traditional supporters of the country, as Israel veers to the right. Less than a week before his Hungary visit, Mr Netanyahu addressed a conference in Jerusalem aimed at combatting anti-Semitism that featured a number of far-right European politicians in the audience.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Israel cancels visas for French lawmakers
Israel's Government cancelled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials two days before they were to start a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday (April 20, 2025), the group said. The action came only days after Israel stopped two British members of parliament from the governing Labour party from entering the country. It also came amidst diplomatic tensions after President Emmanuel Macron said France would soon recognise a Palestinian state. Mr. Macron has in turn sought to pressure Netanyahu over conditions in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. Israel's interior ministry said visas for the 27 had been cancelled under a law that allows authorities to ban people who could act against the state of Israel. Seventeen members of the group, from France's Ecologist and Communist parties, said they had been victims of 'collective punishment' by Israel and called on Mr. Macron to intervene. They said in a statement that they had been invited on a five-day trip by the French consulate in Jerusalem. They had intended to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of their mission to 'strengthen international cooperation and the culture of peace', they added. 'For the first time, two days before our departure, the Israeli authorities cancelled our entry visas that had been approved one month ago,' they said. 'We want to understand what led to this sudden decision, which resembles collective punishment,' said the group. 'Major rupture' The delegation included National Assembly deputies Francois Ruffin, Alexis Corbiere and Julie Ozenne from the Ecologist party, Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha and Communist senator Marianne Margate. The other members were left-wing town mayors and local lawmakers. The statement denounced the ban as a 'major rupture in diplomatic ties'. 'Deliberately preventing elected officials and parliamentarians from travelling cannot be without consequences,' the group said, demanding a meeting with Mr. Macron and action by the Government to ensure Israel let them into the country. The group said their parties had for decades called for recognition of a Palestinian state, which Mr. Macron said last week could come at an international conference in June. Israeli authorities this month detained British members of parliament Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed at Tel Aviv airport and deported them, citing the same reason. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the action 'unacceptable'. In February, Israel stopped two left-wing European parliament deputies, Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan from Ireland, from entering. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted with fury to France's possible recognition of a Palestinian state. He said establishing a Palestinian state next to Israel would be a 'huge reward for terrorism'.
Al Manar
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
‘Israel' Cancels Visas for 27 French Lawmakers over Macron Intention to Support Palestinian State
The Israeli occupation government has cancelled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials just two days before they were set to begin a five-day visit to the Zionist entity and the Palestinian territories. The action comes in the backdrop of already existing diplomatic tensions between the Zionist entity and France after French president Emmanuel Macron said that his country would soon recognize Palestinian state. The delegation, comprising members of France's Ecologist and Communist parties, was invited by the French consulate in occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem). Their mission, according to the group, aimed to 'strengthen international cooperation and promote a culture of peace.' Israel's government cancelled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials two days before they were to start a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday, the group said. — AL-Monitor (@AlMonitor) April 21, 2025 Israeli Interior ministry attributed the action to allow that allows the occupation government to deny entry to individuals deemed likely to act against the 'State of Israel'. The French delegation whose visa has been cancelled said that this was the first time, that just before two days before their departure, Israeli authorities cancelled their entry visas that had been approved one month ago. 'We want to understand what led to this sudden decision, which resembles collective punishment,' the group said. During a visit to Egypt, President Emmanuel Macron said France will move towards recognising a Palestinian state in the next few months. Macron was meeting regional leaders to discuss the future of Gaza. — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 10, 2025 The statement from the group termed the visa cancellation as a 'major rupture in diplomatic ties'. 'Deliberately preventing elected officials and parliamentarians from travelling cannot be without consequences,' the group added, demanding a meeting with Macron and action by his government to ensure Israel let them into the country.
