Israel calls French decision to deny entry to settler leader ...
Israel calls French decision to deny entry to settler leader ‘completely unacceptable’
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel condemns France’s decision to deny entry to settler leader and head of the Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan last week, calling it ‘completely unacceptable.’
“Israel views with severity France’s decision to ban the entry of a law-abiding Israeli elected official on a blatantly political and ideological basis,” says the Foreign Ministry.
“This is a completely unacceptable step, and Israel will demand explanations for it from the French government and will accordingly consider its steps,” it says.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article gives the Foreign Ministry's claim that Dagan is 'law-abiding' and was banned on 'a blatantly political and ideological basis', and offers nothing against it. It leaves out France's stated position that settlement activity is contrary to international law. It also leaves out France's earlier sanctions on settlers accused of human rights abuses against Palestinians. Without these facts, a reader believes the ban had no legal basis and was purely political.
How we know
- Arab News reported“Settlement activity is contrary to international law”French authorities refuse entry to Israeli settler chief Yossi Dagan (opens in a new tab)
- Al-Monitor reported“France announced sanctions against 28 Israeli settlers accused of committing human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank”France denies entry for Israeli settler leader: What to know (opens in a new tab)
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Dagan’s office says he was taken aside for questioning by border control officials and told he was not allowed to enter the country due to his role in the establishment of 35 settlements in the northern West Bank, and for promoting the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
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