The French government has announced that Israeli companies will be barred from participating in the Eurosatory defense exhibition, which is set to take place in Paris from June 17-21. This decision was made after Israel failed to comply with President Emmanuel Macron’s request to cease fighting in Rafah. According to a report by Le Monde, about 74 Israeli companies had registered for the exhibition, with ten of them planning to showcase weapons.
The decision by the French government has raised concerns among Israeli authorities and organizations that have called for a boycott of the exhibition. Several groups had contacted the exhibition organizers to protest against the presence of Israeli companies, arguing that they were involved in selling weapons that could be used in crimes in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
This move by France is part of a trend in which several countries have imposed arms embargoes on Israel. In addition to France, Chile’s President Gabriel Borich recently banned Israeli participation in the FIDAE 2024 air show, a major event in Latin America. Despite these exclusions, Israeli companies remain hopeful for future participation in international defense exhibitions.
The CEO of Asgard Systems, Rotem Mi-Tal, who was planning to participate in Eurosatory, expressed his disappointment at the decision made by French authorities. He stated that only Israel and Russia have been barred from this year’s exhibition. Mi-Tal emphasized that he believes this decision will have a negative impact on international cooperation and defense industry relations. He urged other countries to reconsider their stance on arms embargoes against Israel and encouraged them to engage with Israeli companies instead of boycotting them.
Overall, this move by France highlights the growing tension between Israel and some Western countries over its actions towards Palestine. While it remains uncertain how long this ban will last or whether it will be lifted in the future, it sends a clear message that certain actions can lead to sanctions and exclusion from international events and initiatives.
