The Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, said that the Israeli government’s decision to prevent the mayor of Gennevilliers Leclerc Patrice and his wife from entering Palestine after their detention and subjecting them to interrogation for seven hours on the border with jordan is a disgraceful act, but evidence of weakness of this Israeli government in facing the international solidarity movement with Palestine.

Barghouthi added that this Israeli behavior contravenes international laws & will not weaken the French solidarity movement with the Palestinian people and its just cause.

Barghouthi thanked Mayor of Gennevilliers Leclerc Patrice and its Council for their principled positions in the support of the Palestinian people.

Barghouti statement came after Israel blocked the mayor of a Paris suburb this week because he believed to promote boycotts of the country Israeli media reported today.

For its part France requested that elected officials be permitted to enter Israel and the Palestinian territories, its Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, a day after Israel prevented the mayor of a Paris suburb from entering because of his support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

A spokesperson for the ministry said Patrice Leclerc’s planned visit was part of attempts to supervise implementation of international programs in the Palestinian territories.

“The decision not to let him into the country was made for a series of reasons in connection to his activity in the BDS movement and his promotion of boycotts against Israel,” the statement said.

Israeli Officials said the decision was taken after Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan deemed Patrice a BDS supporter.

The Communist Party of France politician arrived at the Allenby Crossing in the West Bank together with his wife. After he was turned away, his wife decided not to enter Israel either.