France has barred Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council in the West Bank, from entering the country, two sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.
Last week, French immigration authorities prevented Dagan from entering the country and informed him that he was not permitted to cross the border into France.
France bans Samaria regional council head Dagan from entering country
During border control, Dagan was taken in for questioning, where an officer spoke with him at length and presented documentation showing that he was prohibited from entering the country due to his role as head of the Samaria Regional Council, his building of 35 settlements in the West Bank, and his advocacy for Gush Katif.
When asked for his response to the entry ban, Dagan stated: "I am proud to be a Jew and a Zionist and to build the historic homeland of the Jewish people. I am proud to be on the right side of history."
The decision, made in recent days, marks an unusual move by French authorities, as there have been no previously known cases of France banning the head of an Israeli regional council in the West Bank from entering.
This comes after France banned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced in May.