French lawmaker demands ban on pro-Israel gala in Paris

PARIS

French lawmaker Thomas Portes on Wednesday demanded the police ban a pro-Israel gala in Paris to be attended by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The "Israel is Forever" gala will take place in Paris on Nov. 13, with Smotrich's participation, Portes said, adding that he has requested Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez to cancel the event.

Portes stated: "France cannot accept the presence of a war criminal on its soil," while sharing his letter to Nunez on his X account.

The letter said that Smotrich's participation in the gala raises serious concerns due to his controversial statements regarding the ongoing war crimes in Gaza.

The EU, France, and the UK have condemned Smotrich for saying that starving the people of Gaza is fair and moral, it added.