Paris:French authorities have denied entry to Yossi Dagan, the head of the settlement council in the northern occupied West Bank, at a Paris airport, marking what Israeli media describe as a 'diplomatic precedent.'

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Dagan was stopped by French immigration authorities upon his arrival for meetings with elected French officials. This incident is reportedly unprecedented, as no Western country has previously barred the head of an Israeli regional council in the occupied West Bank.

Dagan's office reported that he was questioned by immigration officials, who cited his involvement in building 35 settlements in the occupied West Bank and efforts to reestablish Gush Katif, a bloc of Israeli settlements evacuated from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The reasons for his denial of entry have not been publicly confirmed by French authorities.

Following the incident, Dagan traveled to Prague, where he engaged in meetings with senior Czech government officials and members of both houses of parliament. Israeli Army Radio was told by Dagan that a French police representative indicated the decision to deny entry was political, warning that such actions could potentially affect other Israeli citizens in the future.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where expansion, land seizures, and other activities have been contentious. A 2016 UN Security Council Resolution declared these settlements as having no legal validity, constituting a violation of international law. Recent actions by the French government and the broader EU have targeted Israeli occupiers accused of attacks on Palestinians, with measures including entry bans and potential trade sanctions.