France slams Israel’s ‘demagogic’ ban on opposition leader Melenchon

Israeli ban on France Unbowed leader comes after Paris turned away a prominent advocate of illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. Paris has condemned Israel’s “demagogic decision” to bar French opposition figure Jean-Luc Melenchon from entering the country.

Late on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot slammed Israel’s earlier announcement that Melenchon, leader of the France Unbowed party (La France Insoumise), was not welcome. Israel barred the party’s parliamentary group chair Mathilde Panot, alongside Melenchon, due to the “extreme anti-Israel stance” of the party and “outrageous statements” made by its leaders.

“France will continue tirelessly to work toward a two-state solution and peaceful coexistence between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” the minister added. At the weekend, Melenchon had said that if he was victorious in the upcoming presidential election in April 2027, he would order French ships to escort flotillas taking aid to Gaza.