Ireland imposes travel ban on Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich
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Ireland's government has banned two Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country. Taoiseach Micheál Martin justified the move by saying the ministers have demonstrated "a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine." The travel ban reflects Dublin's increasingly critical stance toward Israeli government policies and officials. Ben-Gvir, who heads the National Security Ministry, and Smotrich, the Finance Minister, are both members of far-right parties in Israel's governing coalition and have made controversial statements about Palestinian territories.