France bars Israeli settler leader from entry amid settlement row

French authorities prevented Yossi Dagan, a leading figure in Israel's settler movement, from entering the country, according to reports on Tuesday. Dagan, who heads the Samaria Regional Council in the occupied West Bank, was stopped at the border without further details disclosed by French officials.

Israeli officials condemned the decision as unacceptable interference. The government's response underscores broader friction between Jerusalem and Paris over Israel's settlement policies, which France and much of the European Union consider obstacles to Middle East peace and violations of international law.

Dagan has been a vocal advocate for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and has frequently clashed with Palestinian authorities and international critics. His entry ban marks an escalation in Europe's diplomatic measures against Israeli settlement leaders and reflects the continent's hardening stance on the issue.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and European nations over settlement expansion. France has previously taken diplomatic action on the matter, though such direct entry bans of Israeli officials remain relatively uncommon in Europe.

Neither French nor Israeli authorities immediately provided additional context regarding the specific grounds for the exclusion or its duration.