US may deny Smotrich entry after he called for wiping out Huwara

The United States is considering barring Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country as planned this month to protest his call to wipe out the West Bank Palestinian town of Huwara, according to reports in the Israeli media.

Smotrich is expected to speak to the Israel Bonds organization and had not been planning to meet with any US officials.

But a number of groups, including the US Jewish group J Street have called on US government officials not to "legitimize his extremism by meeting with him, either in the United States or elsewhere.”

Last week US State Department spokesman Ned Price called his words “irresponsible,” “repugnant,” and “disgusting.”

French and Saudi officials' statements

France on Friday said it was “appalled” by his comments. “These remarks are unacceptable, irresponsible and unworthy of a member of the Israeli government, which moreover is in charge of the civil administration of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These remarks only inflame hatred and fuel the current cycle of violence. 

“Once again, France calls on the Israeli government to protect Palestinian civilians and hold the perpetrators of violence accountable, in line with the international obligations incumbent upon it as an occupying power,” it said. 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said it was “an unfathomable statement of incitement to violence and hostility.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry called it a “racist” and “extremist statement" which reflected the level of violence enacted by Israel against the Palestinians. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said it was a breach of human rights and international law.