Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 13, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 13, 2023
French government officials won’t meet Smotrich during visit next week
Jewish Americans and Israeli ex-pats protest against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich outside the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington on March 12, 2023. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)
French government officials will not meet with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during his visit to France next week, embassy officials tell Channel 12 news.
The report comes days after Smotrich makes a visit to the US, where he also only holds talks with Jewish groups and not the Biden administration.
In Washington, the far-right leader again apologizes for calling to “wipe out” the Palestinian town of Huwara and committed to “protect every innocent life, Jew or Arab.”
Sources close to Smotrich tell the channel that, in any case, he was only supposed to meet with Jewish groups.
However, the report notes the public confirmation from the French government is significant.
