Israel’s Interior Ministry has revoked the entry visas of 27 French lawmakers and local officials, citing a law permitting the denial of entry to individuals deemed likely to act against the state.
The delegation, comprising members of France’s Ecologist and Communist parties, was scheduled to commence a five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. According to the group, the trip, organised by the French consulate in Jerusalem, aimed to promote international cooperation and peace.
Prominent figures in the group include National Assembly deputies François Ruffin, Alexis Corbière and Julie Ozenne, as well as Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha and Senator Marianne Margate. The delegation also included several mayors and local officials.
In a joint statement, 17 members of the group condemned the visa cancellations as “collective punishment” and a “major rupture in diplomatic ties.” They have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to intervene, emphasising that their visas had been approved a month prior.
