Israel Blocks French Delegation from Entering West Bank, Sparking Outrage from Bethlehem Municipality
Bethlehem Condemns Israeli Ban on French Local Officials Visiting Palestinian Cities as a Violation of Diplomatic Norms.
Watan-The Palestinian Municipality of Bethlehem stated that Israel on Wednesday blocked a French delegation from entering the West Bank, where they were scheduled to visit several Palestinian cities. The municipality described the move as “a blatant violation of all red lines.”
In an official statement, the municipality said the French delegation included about 50 representatives from French local authorities, participating in the “Palestine Year 2025” initiative, organized by the “United Cities of France” in cooperation with the “Decentralized Cooperation Network for Palestine.”
The municipality expressed strong condemnation of the Israeli decision, calling it “a flagrant breach of red lines and an unacceptable interference in the international and decentralized cooperation relations that link the Palestinian and French peoples.”
It added that “these Israeli decisions not only aim to undermine civil initiatives but also punish the actors dedicated to building a just and lasting peace — a precondition for regional stability.”
The Municipality of Bethlehem also described the ban as “part of a systematic policy to isolate the Palestinian people and obstruct any efforts for dialogue or mutual understanding through peaceful diplomatic means.”
Bethlehem is a historic city in the southern occupied West Bank and holds significant religious value as it houses the Church of the Nativity, believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
