Politics · France · 1 hr ago
France bars West Bank settlement leader Yossi Dagan from entering
France barred Yossi Dagan from entering the country after he arrived at a Paris airport last week.
Dagan heads the Samaria Regional Council, which represents Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
French officials said the ban was due to his role in implementing settlement policy, which France says is contrary to international law and harms the prospect of a two-state solution.
Dagan’s office said he was questioned at passport control and told he could not enter; one account also cited his support for settlements and resettlement in Gaza.
Israel called the decision unacceptable and said it would demand an explanation from the French government.
The move comes as France and Israel face wider tensions over West Bank settlements and violence.
France has announced other measures targeting settlement-related activity, while a French parliamentary committee has adopted a bill to ban imports from Israeli settlements and some related services.
France barred Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, from entering the country after he arrived at a Paris airport.
French officials said the administrative ban was because of his active role in implementing West Bank settlement policy.
Dagan’s office said he was questioned at passport control and then told he could not enter France.
Israel condemned the decision as unacceptable and said it would demand an explanation from France.
Dagan’s office said he had flown to Paris for a series of meetings.
- Who
- Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, was denied entry. Israel and France responded to the decision.
- What
- France barred Dagan from entering its territory after questioning him at passport control.
- When
- He arrived in France last week. The decision was reported on November 11, 2026.
- Where
- At a Paris airport and at the French border.
- Why
- France said the ban was due to Dagan’s active role in implementing settlement policy in the West Bank.
France
Israel
Reason for the decision
France
France said Dagan was barred because of his active role in implementing West Bank settlement policy.
Israel
Israel said the ban was based on political and ideological grounds.
Assessment of settlements
France
France said settlement building is contrary to international law and undermines the two-state solution.
Israel
Israel described Dagan as a law-abiding elected official and called the ban unacceptable.
Dagan arrived at a Paris airport, was questioned at passport control and was denied entry to France.
Israel condemned the French decision and said it would demand an explanation.
- Person barred
- Yossi Dagan
- Position
- Head of the Samaria Regional Council
- Place
- Paris, France
- Reported date
- November 11, 2026
- French rationale
- Active role in implementing West Bank settlement policy
3 sources
What people are saying
Dagan is subject to an administrative ban from the territory because of his active role in implementing the settlement policy in the West Bank.
Settlement building is contrary to international law and undermines the two-state solution.
Israel views with severity France’s decision to ban the entry of a law-abiding Israeli elected official on a blatantly political and ideological basis.
proud to be, together with my brothers and sisters — the pioneers of Samaria — on the right side of history.