French government condemns Israel entry ban on Jean-Luc Melenchon

Foreign minister accuses Netanyahu of 'demagogic' move after ban announced on left-wing presidential contender La France Insoumise presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon attends a ceremony dedicated to victims of WWI, in Gentioux-Pigerolles, central France, on 11 November 2026 (Pascal Lachenaud/AFP) Published date: 13 November 2026 11:25 GMT | Last update: 7 sec ago The French government has condemned Israel for blocking left-wing political leader and presidential contender Jean-Luc Melenchon from the country. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the move as a "demagogic decision" by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which he said "has repeatedly violated international law". Barrot, an opponent of Melenchon and his La France Insoumise (LFI) party, said Israel's move “plays into the hands of those who, like La France Insoumise, live off the instrumentalisation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. The ban on Melenchon was announced on Thursday, citing the veteran politician's criticism of Israel's occupation and genocide in Gaza. Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Melenchon of "blood libels" against Israel, specifically citing his promise last week to send ships to accompany Gaza aid flotillas if elected president. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters It also comes a week after France refused admission to the country to Israeli settler Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council in the northern occupied West Bank. France is set for elections in 2027 that could see the far-right National Rally win the presidency for the first time. Its leader Marine Le Pen is leading in polls, with Melenchon her nearest rival. France's polarised road to 2027: Repression, racism and the rise of the far right Read More » In response to the ban, Melenchon said he regretted the Israeli government was targeting him in this fashion. “I have been banned from entering a territory I had no intention of visiting," he wrote on X. France has been a staunch backer of Israel since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023. However, the decision by the government to recognise the State of Palestine in September 2025 provoked fury from Israel and relations have deteriorated ever since. Last week, Melenchon said if elected he would take "direct action to come to the aid of the Palestinians, both against the genocide in Gaza and against the gradual annexation of the West Bank". "French ships will, if necessary, escort flotillas of citizens mobilising to assert their rights," Melenchon wrote on X. "We do not accept the gradual annexation of the West Bank, southern Lebanon or the Golan Heights," he added. Melenchon said "we will take concrete steps to mobilise against the extension of these atrocities to besieged Christian communities being persecuted in Palestine and Lebanon". Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.