The Israeli authorities on Monday banned the entry of a number of European MPs and French mayors because of their activism in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The Hebrew website “0404” reported that Israel’s Minister of Interior, Aryeh Deri, adopted recommendations by Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Security, Gilad Erdan, not to allow the entry of a delegation composed of European MPs and heads of French local councils.

Deri said, according to the website, “This is not the first time we prevent the entry of boycott activists into Israel. This time, however, it is a delegation of European figures coming to act against Israel, and the matter is assuming a different dimension.”

Erdan stressed that they will never allow entry of these BDS activists especially that they were planning to visit the Palestinian prisoner Marwan al-Barghouthi in Israeli jails.

Israel has enacted many laws against its boycotters including a law that allows to sue boycott activists and ask for financial compensations up to 100,000 shekels ($29,000) and 500,000 shekels ($143,000).

The Israeli authorities have recently barred the entry of dozens of activists and human rights workers because of their solidarity with the Palestinian people.