France has banned Israeli companies from participating in this year's annual Eurosatory arms and defense industry exhibition in Villepinte near Paris next month, the event's organizers and the French Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"Following a decision by government authorities, there will not be an Israeli stand at the Eurosatory 2024 salon," a spokesperson for the organizers said via email.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron
(Photo: Christophe Ena / POOL / AFP, Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
According to French news agency AFP, no less than 74 Israeli firms were expected to participate in the annual defense expo.
The Defense Ministry told Reuters that "Conditions are no longer met to host Israeli companies at the show at a time when the President is calling for Israel to cease operations in Rafah."
Earlier this week, President Emmanuel Macron said he was "outraged" over an Israeli airstrike that triggered a fire killing 45 people in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah and prompting an outcry from global leaders.
Ynet’s sister publication Calcalist reported in March that France required Israeli companies to obtain an import license in advance from the French Defense Ministry, without which they were prohibited from showcasing their planned exhibits. The French Defense Ministry clarified to the companies that it also had the authority to ban the display of Israeli weapons at its discretion.
"There has never been such a demand before, which simply diminishes Israel's status," a senior official from one of the companies told Calcalist. "Requirements for prior approval from authorities for bringing exhibits are imposed on inferior nations, not to say pariahs. It's humiliating, degrading and unacceptable."
Meanwhile, the Israeli defense establishment believed this was an attempt to pressure Israel amid the ongoing war.
In an interview with French media on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained the IDF's actions by recalling a 2021 incident where French forces, targeting jihadist fighters in Mali, accidentally bombed a wedding and killed 19 civilians.
According to the report, around 100 people attended the wedding at that time, and only about five of them were members of an al-Qaeda-affiliated group that also participated in the celebration.
“It’s a tragedy, and It’s something that happens in war, but I won’t call [French President Emmanuel] Macron a war criminal. I won’t say the French [killed civilians] on purpose, and neither do we,” Netanyahu said.
The June exhibition is set to focus on the ongoing Russo-Ukraine and Middle East wars, with Israel at the center, facing multiple fronts simultaneously. These conflicts have led to the largest arms race since the Cold War.
As with other major exhibitions, Eurosatory is expected to attract high-profile guests, including heads of state, military commanders and procurement officials looking to explore the latest in combat systems and military technology. For Israeli industries, this event is a crucial marketing opportunity and a chance to initiate future arms deals.
Israel has yet to officially respond to France’s decision to cancel the participation of Israeli industries. Defense Ministry officials told Ynet that the matter is under review, and no official notice has been received from the exhibition organizers. "If this is true, it likely comes from a higher authority, which is very serious," defense industries officials added. The Israeli Embassy in France said it was studying the directive.
The French decision follows another from Chile, which banned Israeli participation in the FIDAE 2024 air defense exhibition focusing on Latin America. Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, Elbit Systems and other companies had planned to showcase their products there.
The cancellation of Israeli companies' participation comes amid significant tension between Israel and France over the ongoing war in Gaza, particularly the operation in Rafah. Last week, France also supported the International Criminal Court prosecutor's decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
"Regarding Israel, it depends on the pre-trial chamber, which will decide whether to issue the warrants after reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecutor," said the French Foreign Ministry. "France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight against impunity in all circumstances."
Paris has warned for months about the need for strict compliance with international humanitarian laws, especially due to the unacceptable number of civilian casualties in Gaza and the lack of access to aid.
Reuters contributed to this story.