Israel has become world's most boycotted state

ANKARA:

Israel has become the country most exposed to boycotts worldwide, facing a sweeping wave of international sanctions targeting government officials, occupiers and official institutions, the daily Yedioth Ahronoth said on Thursday.

Under the headline "How Israel became the most boycotted nation in the world", the newspaper said Israel had faced "a tsunami of international sanctions targeting government officials, occupiers and institutions, escalating pressure from multiple countries and long-standing pro-BDS organisations".

The country's best-selling newspaper cited several examples, including artists refusing to perform in Israel, authors refusing Hebrew translations of their work and campaigns removing Israel from events like Eurovision or FIFA competitions. It said France recently barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, after previously imposing a similar ban on Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. "EU discussions are ongoing regarding personal sanctions against Israeli ministers," the paper said.