French border authorities denied entry last week to a prominent Israeli far-right settler leader due to his activities involving settlement expansion and violations of Palestinian rights.
,Yossi Dagan was detained and questioned by border control officials at Charles de Gaulle Airport, his office said on Wednesday. Authorities refused him entry because of his role in building 35 settlements in the northern occupied West Bank and for promoting the re-establishment of illegal Jewish settlements in Gaza.
,Dagan leads the Shomron Regional Council, one of six bodies managing settlement affairs in the West Bank. He recently spearheaded the resettlement of Ganim, Sa-Nur and Homesh, areas evacuated in 2005.
,Israeli media reported that Dagan expressed surprise at the decision during his airport interrogation. Border control officers suggested he was connected to 35 settlements, but Dagan boasted during questioning that he had established 50 settlements.
,Dagan intended to travel from France to the Czech Republic. Instead, border officials placed him on a return flight to Israel.
,The traveller stated that Israel’s foreign ministry had previously asked him to keep the decision quiet. The ministry condemned the immigration authorities on Wednesday.
,"This is a completely unacceptable step and Israel will demand explanations for it from the French government and will accordingly consider its steps," the ministry said.
,France’s foreign ministry defended the move in a statement. Officials confirmed that Dagan faced an administrative entry ban.
,"Mr. Dagan is subject to an administrative entry ban because of his active role in implementing settlement policies in the West Bank," the French ministry said. "Settlement activity is contrary to international law and undermines the two-state solution."
,Earlier in July, Dagan led an 8.5 billion-shekel framework government agreement valued at $2.3 billion to expand settlements. That plan involves roughly 12,000 new housing units, roads and additional infrastructure projects across the West Bank.
,France formally recognized Palestinian statehood in September last year. Paris has repeatedly condemned Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, describing the activity as a direct obstacle to lasting peace and a viable two-state solution.
