Why did these 27 French lawmakers get barred from entering Israel?

Israel has canceled entry visas for 27 French parliamentarians and left-wing activists just two days before their scheduled visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, according to a report by a French news agency.

The Israeli Interior Ministry confirmed the move, citing Section 40 of the Entry Law, which permits denial of entry to individuals engaged in activities against the state. “It was decided to deny their entry under Section 40 of the Entry Law (Activities against the State), after the reason for their visit became clear,” a ministry spokesperson stated.

Israeli officials clarified that the delegation’s entry had initially been approved. However, once it became evident that the group intended to engage in what was described as “provocative activity” in Judea and Samaria, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel ordered the cancellation.

The decision comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between France and Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron recently signaled that France may soon recognize a Palestinian state and publicly criticized Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

The visa cancellations mirror a similar incident earlier this week, in which Israel denied entry to two British Labour Party parliamentarians for comparable reasons. The move drew sharp criticism from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who labeled Israel’s action “unacceptable.”

In February, Israel also blocked entry to two members of the European Parliament - Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan, the latter an Irish politician from Sinn Féin - citing similar concerns.