France's foreign minister has announced that the European Union may soon impose new sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of inciting violence in Palestinian territories. This follows Paris's warning that a recent incident in Jerusalem, where Israeli security forces entered a French-administered property, "must never happen again."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has announced the possibility of a new round of European Union sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of exacerbating violence in Palestinian territories.
This comes as far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was expected in the French capital this week, raising concerns over aggravating Franco-Israeli tensions.
Speaking exclusively to RFI and France 24, Barrot stated he had not received confirmation of Smotrich's attendance at the "Israel is Forever" gala – an event hosted by far-right figures – intended to support Israel.
A spokesman for the Israeli minister has since announced he will not be travelling to France.
Smotrich has made headlines of late with promises to annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank by 2025, amid fears this will escalate the ongoing conflict.
Barrot told RFI: "We denounce the policy being promoted by this minister [Smotrich] in the Israeli government, which consists of continuing an activity that is illegal under international law – the settlement and aggressive colonisation of the West Bank”.
“This is also the reason why we have activated other sanctions. On several occasions, at national level, firstly by targeting 28 extremist and violent settlers, some of whom were encouraged by this minister in the Netanyahu government,” he added.
The gala is set to take place just prior to a football match between France and Israel, with authorities classifying the event as "high-risk" following last Thursday's violence in Amsterdam on the sidelines of a match involving Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
France ‘driving force’ behind sanctions
On Monday Barrot was in attendance at a Paris Peace Forum, where he highlighted France's previous imposition of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers and emphasised the EU’s active role in considering further sanctions, which may soon be implemented.
He reiterated France’s stance on the issue to RFI saying: “At European level … we were the driving force behind the creation of a system of sanctions targeting entities or individuals guilty of or complicit in colonisation.
“This system has been activated twice. We have launched two sets of sanctions against these people … and we are currently working on a third set of European sanctions."
Barrot also reaffirmed France's commitment to a two-state solution during his recent visit to the West Bank.
French concerns are shared internationally, with the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK also implementing sanctions against extremist settlers.
No repeat of 'Jerusalem incident'
Meanwhile, Barrot underlined to RFI that a repeat of an incident in Jerusalem that saw armed Israeli security forces entering a property administered by France must never happen again.
Ahead of summoning Israel's envoy to Paris over the matter, Barrot told RFI "it is an opportunity for France to reiterate that it will not tolerate Israeli armed forces entering these areas, for which it [France] is responsible, for which it ensures protection".
On 7 November, two French security officials with diplomatic status were briefly detained after the French foreign minister was due to visit the compound of The Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives.
The site, one of four administered by France in Jerusalem, is under Paris' responsibility and it not the first time that problems have arisen over France's historic holdings in the Holy City.
Diplomatic relations between France and Israel have worsened since President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the supply to Israel of offensive weapons used in Gaza and attempted to ban Israeli weapons' firms from exhibiting at a trade fair in Paris earlier this month.
Israel names new ambassador to US
This comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Yechiel Leiter as the new ambassador to the United States.
US-born Leiter – who previously served as the chief of staff in the finance ministry and has a deep understanding of American culture and politics – has been described by Netanyahu as a highly capable diplomat.
His appointment has been particularly welcomed by the Yesha Council – which represents Jewish settlements in the West Bank – underling the widening gap between Israel's internal policy and international law which has ruled the settlement of occupied territories is illegal.
Following Donald Trump’s recent re-election victory, his staunch support for Israel has been celebrated by many in the region, with Leiter's appointment seen as a move to strengthen Israeli government policies in the United States.
Last year, Leiter's son was killed in the Gaza war against Palestinian militant group Hamas while serving with the Israeli Defence Forces.
