Judea and Samaria leadership
Judea and Samaria leadershipArutz Sheva

The French Embassy has barred mayors in Judea and Samaria (Shomron) from being invited to an official ceremony, on account of them running Jewish communities across 1949 Armistice lines. 

The Legion Award Ceremony is being held Thursday night at the French ambassador's home in Yafo (Jaffa).

Ariel mayor Eli Shaviro, Ma'ale Adumim Benny Kasriel, Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Elhayani, and Beit Aryeh leader Avi Naim were each invited to the event - but the embassy has refused to endorse their participation. 

Political officials involved with leadership in Judea-Samaria issued a response to Arutz Sheva on Wednesday night, subtly blaming the Foreign Ministry for not preventing the move. 

"The French have always been good at making selections," they said. "They would not have dared to do such a thing during the term of [former Foreign Minister Avigdor] Liberman, who was a 'settler' himself." Liberman lives in the Gush Etzion community of Nokdim.