White House says it will not meet with Israel's Bezalel Smotrich when he visits the US

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Biden administration officials will not meet with Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister who called for a Palestinian village to be “wiped out” then backtracked, and who is visiting the United States next week to meet with leaders of Israel Bonds, a U.S. organization.

At least five liberal Jewish groups want the U.S. government to consider barring Smotrich from coming here. Ned Price, the State Department’s spokesman, said at Thursday’s daily briefing that questions on Israeli ministers’ travel should be referred to Israel, and that he does not comment on the eligibi...