India, April 21 -- The Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government on Sunday cancelled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials two days before their visits to Jerusalem and Palestinian territories.

The action comes in the backdrop of already existing diplomatic tensions between Israel and France after French president Emmanuel Macron said that his country would soon recognise Palestinian state.

Israel's interior ministry said that visas for the 27 lawmakers had been cancelled under a law that allows authorities to ban people who could act against the state of Israel.

As many as 17 members of the group, from France's Ecologist and Communist parties, said they had been victims of "collective punishment" by Israel, calli...