Egypt Daily News – After President Emmanuel Macron announced that France might recognize a Palestinian state in June, Israel canceled the visas of 27 French lawmakers who were visiting the country, just two days before they were scheduled to head to the West Bank, according to the delegation from Paris.
The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the diplomatic delegation, which included members of the Socialist and Green parties, was scheduled to stay for five days, from April 20 to 24.
For its part, the Israeli Ministry of Interior explained that the visas were canceled under a law that allows authorities to bar the entry of individuals who “act against the State of Israel.”
In response, 17 members of the diplomatic delegation issued a statement calling on the French president to intervene in light of what happened, noting that they had received an official invitation from the French consulate in Jerusalem for a mission they described as aiming to “promote international cooperation and a culture of peace.”
The statement added: “For the first time, 48 hours before our departure, Israeli authorities canceled our entry visas, which had been approved a month ago.” The delegation’s statement continued: “We want to understand what led to this sudden decision that resembles collective punishment.”
These developments come just days after Israel barred two members of the British Parliament from the ruling Labour Party from entering the country, accusing them of calling for a boycott of the Jewish state. This also comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron’s statements, saying that the French president is making a “grave mistake” by promoting the creation of a Palestinian state, which he described as aiming “only to destroy Israel.”
Netanyahu added in his remarks: “We will not accept lectures on establishing a Palestinian state from those who oppose granting independence to Corsica, New Caledonia, and other regions whose independence would pose no threat to France.”
He affirmed that his government would not allow what he described as “illusions” that could threaten the existence of Israel.
