The French government on Monday informed the Defense Ministry that it is barring Israel’s official participation in the EUROSATORY defense exhibition, scheduled for later this month in Paris.
This means that the government and the ministry will be unable to participate in the exhibition or establish a national pavilion.
According to the ministry, “The French decision encompasses: a ban on government representatives attending the exhibition; a ban on opening an Israeli national pavilion; and a restriction limiting Israeli defense industries to displaying air defense products only, with offensive systems explicitly excluded.”
“This policy is applied selectively and discriminatorily relative to other participating nations – in direct violation of the established norms governing international defense exhibition,’ said the ministry.
Despite the ban on the Israeli government and offensive weapons, many Israeli companies are expected to have their own smaller private desks to present defensive weapons.
The ministry said, “This is a disgraceful decision, one that reeks of political and commercial calculation, and regrettably, it comes as no surprise. It fits a deeply troubling pattern in French conduct in recent years – a pattern that has consistently placed France on the wrong side of history.”
Further, the ministry said that France, “is hiding behind a pretense of political justification to exclude Israeli offensive defense systems from an international forum – systems that have proven far superior to their French counterparts, and that have demonstrated exceptional precision and effectiveness against terrorist organizations and regimes threatening not only Israel, but regional and global stability at large.”
Paris’ desire to undermine Jerusalem as a competitor
Israeli sources have said that France’s moves against Israel in the defense field, where other countries have not moved against Israel, are motivated both by delegitimization and by a desire to undermine Jerusalem as a competitor.
Sources also expect non-democratic countries, some of whom are feared as potential international aggressors, to be able to present offensive weapons, despite Israel’s exclusion.
Recently, Israel canceled a visit by France’s top defense ministry officials to Israel in protest of French policy on Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
While France has been critical of Israeli policy on Gaza and Lebanon, and in 2026 also regarding Iran, twice in 2024, France helped shoot down Iranian missiles and drones fired at the Jewish state.
