The Israeli government said Thursday that it would ban far-left French leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon from entering the country after the French presidential contender said he would use French vessels to force aid into Gaza if he were elected. The announcement comes a day after France confirmed it had refused entry to the head of a body representing settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel said on Thursday it would ban French hard-left presidential contender Jean-Luc Mélenchon from visiting after he vowed that if he were elected, French vessels would accompany activists hoping to force aid into Gaza.
"Israel will respond firmly to those who seek to harm it and will not allow individuals who act against Israel and incite against its citizens to enter the country," the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement.
Israel said it would also refuse entry to Mathilde Panot, the parliamentary group chair of Melenchon's France Unbowed party.
The announcement comes a day after France confirmed it had refused entry to the head of a body representing settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Mélenchon, a fierce critic of Israel who had no apparent plans to visit the country, said in a speech Saturday that if he were elected, France would "act directly in support of the Palestinians" in both Gaza and the West Bank.
