Belgium said working to bar Ben Gvir and Smotrich from all EU nations

After Belgium declared far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir personae non gratae, Brussels is also working to extend this ban across all 29 European states that are members of the Schengen Agreement, Channel 12 reports.

The Schengen framework abolished internal border checks, enabling free movement within Europe. But it also requires enforcement against those barred from entry. A senior Belgian Foreign Ministry official tells the network that Belgium intends to push for Smotrich and Ben Gvir to be denied entry throughout the entire Schengen zone.

While the final decision would still rest with each border officer, Belgium aims to see the ban applied consistently across all the countries, the report continues.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot unveiled the ban on the “two extremist Israeli ministers” on Tuesday, alongside his announcement that Belgium will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, adding that sanctions will be imposed on the Israeli government.

The Netherlands and Norway have already barred the two Israeli ministers.