France turns back Israeli settler leader at a Paris airport

France refused entry to Yossi Dagan, the head of an organisation representing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, after he flew into a Paris airport last week. French authorities said he was stopped at passport control and told he was barred from French territory because of his role in implementing settlement policy in the West Bank.

Key facts

• Who: Yossi Dagan, head of an organisation representing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.
• What happened: He was pulled aside and questioned at passport control at a Paris airport and told he could not enter France.
• Reason given: An administrative ban linked to his active role in implementing settlement policy in the West Bank.
• When: The incident happened last week; Israel responded on Wednesday.
• Related measures: France banned Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich earlier this year.

What happened at the border?

According to the French ministry, Dagan was pulled aside and questioned at the airport's passport control before being informed that he was banned from entering French territory. His own office said he was subject to an administrative ban because of his active role in implementing settlement policy in the West Bank.

Dagan said on Wednesday that he was undeterred by the ban.

Why was he refused entry?

The French ministry said settlement building is contrary to international law and undermines the two-state solution. Israel's foreign ministry said the measures against Dagan were based on political and ideological grounds and described the entry ban as "completely unacceptable". It said Israel would demand an explanation from the French government and consider its next steps accordingly.

What is the wider context?

The incident comes amid growing tension between Israel and European countries over illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. France and 11 other countries announced in September that they intended to restrict trade with illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory, a move that drew outrage from Israeli officials.

On Monday, a French parliamentary committee approved a bill banning imports of settlement goods and of services contributing to settlement construction. Further discussion of the bill is scheduled for 19 November. Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, counts at least 148 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and 15 in occupied East Jerusalem, home to about 750,000 Israelis.

France also banned far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both members of Netanyahu's cabinet, earlier this year.

What this means for travellers

The case concerns an individual administrative entry ban enforced at passport control, and the source does not describe any change to France's general entry or visa rules for ordinary travellers. It does show that border officers can question arriving passengers and refuse them entry on the spot.

The French parliamentary bill on settlement goods and services is due to be discussed further on 19 November. Israel has said it will seek an explanation from France before deciding what to do next.