Jean-Luc Mélenchon
‘Israel’ bars French presidential candidate Mélenchon over Gaza flotilla remarks
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- ‘Israel’ has barred French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon and lawmaker Mathilde Panot from entering the country.
- The ‘Israeli’ Foreign Ministry accused them of spreading what it called “blood libels against Israel.”
- The move follows Mélenchon's proposal for French naval vessels to escort civilian flotillas attempting to reach Gaza.
‘Israel’ has barred French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon and lawmaker Mathilde Panot from entering the country, accusing them of spreading what it called “blood libels against Israel” and citing Mélenchon's proposal for French naval vessels to escort civilian flotillas attempting to reach Gaza.
Mélenchon dismissed the decision, saying he had never sought to enter 'Israeli' territory. “Israel is barring me from entering its territory? I didn't ask to enter it,” he said.
He added that if his political movement came to power in France, it would denounce what he described as the genocide in Gaza, the expansion of ‘Israeli’ settlements in the occupied West Bank and the gradual annexation of southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
“Reject the rule of the strongest or the most unhinged and respect international law under all circumstances: that is our political stance,” Mélenchon said.
The French politician made his flotilla proposal on Nov. 7, during a political gathering near Paris where he outlined his movement's programme ahead of France's 2027 presidential election. He suggested French naval vessels could join Italian and Spanish ships in escorting civilian flotillas attempting to reach Gaza.
The ‘Israeli’ decision reportedly came in retaliation for France's refusal to admit West Bank settler leader Yossi Dagan, who had sought to travel to Paris for meetings.
The move follows a similar decision in September, when ‘Israel’ barred several British left-wing politicians, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, amid tensions over their criticism of ‘Israeli’ policies.
Read more: Anti-Zionist 'Israeli' playwright announces move to Greece over Gaza war
