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<\/a><\/p>\nPublished On 5 Jun 20265 Jun 2026<\/p>\n
Ireland has barred Israel\u2019s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, from visiting the country, citing their conduct towards pro-Palestinian activists and support for policies that would displace Palestinians from their homeland.<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s Prime Minister Micheal Martin \u2013 known as the Taoiseach \u2013 confirmed the move on Friday, saying the two far-right ministers had advocated positions that amounted to \u201ca desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine\u201d.<\/p>\n
Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have repeatedly called for Israel to annex Palestinian territories<\/a> and push Palestinians out of Gaza<\/a>, provoking condemnation from rights groups and several foreign governments.<\/p>\n Martin also referenced the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last month.<\/p>\n Ben-Gvir provoked widespread condemnation<\/a> when he shared video<\/a> of himself mocking the detained activists as they knelt on the floor, blindfolded, with their hands bound.<\/p>\n In a statement, Ireland\u2019s justice ministry said Justice Minister Jim O\u2019Callaghan had instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Ben-Gvir and Smotrich should they seek to enter the state.<\/p>\n Ben-Gvir became a minister in 2022, after an alliance with Smotrich\u2019s far-right Religious Zionist party came third in legislative elections.<\/p>\n Smotrich, who himself lives on an illegal Israeli settlement<\/a>, has been a vocal advocate of Israel annexing the occupied West Bank, saying he hopes to \u201ckill the idea\u201d of a Palestinian state.<\/p>\n Together, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich form a cornerstone of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s right-wing coalition.<\/p>\n \u2018Justifies EU sanctions\u2019<\/p>\n Addressing Ireland\u2019s travel ban at a summit in Montenegro, Martin said the two Israeli ministers should also be subject to EU sanctions.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my view, their behaviour justifies sanctions at EU level as well, and that\u2019s something that we will raise, whether we can get sufficient support across the European Union is a different matter,\u201d Martin was quoted by Irish broadcaster RTE.<\/p>\n Since Israel\u2019s genocidal attacks on Gaza, Ireland has been among the most outspoken critics of Israel.<\/p>\n In 2024, Ireland officially recognised the Palestinian state<\/a>, after which Israel ordered the closure of its embassy in Dublin.<\/p>\n