Israel's government said it would ban Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the radical leftist French presidential election candidate, and one of his party's leaders from entering its territory, saying the two 'act against Israel and incite against its citizens.'

The announcement, made by the Israeli government on Thursday, followed comments by Mélenchon, a far-left French leader, that he would use French vessels to force aid into Gaza if he were elected.S2

The move comes a day after France confirmed it had refused entry to the head of a body representing settlements in the occupied West Bank, a decision that places the dispute over Israel's policies in the occupied territories squarely in the context of France's own border and diplomatic actions.S2