France bans Israeli officials from participating in defense expo in Paris

France has barred Israel from taking part in this month's Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris. According to Israel's Defence Ministry, French authorities have banned Israeli government representatives from attending the major defence event and blocked Israel from establishing a national pavilion.

The ministry also said Israeli defence companies will only be allowed to display air defence systems, while offensive weapons and military equipment have been excluded from the exhibition floor.

The development marks another setback in relations between Paris and Jerusalem. France had banned Israel's Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering French territory after he promoted a video showing himself taunting bound and kneeling activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla who had been detained by Israeli security forces.

ISRAEL CONDEMNS FRENCH DECISION

Israel's Defence Ministry criticised the move, describing it as politically motivated and discriminatory. In a statement cited by The Times of Israel, the ministry called the decision a "disgraceful decision" driven by "political and commercial calculation".

Israeli officials argued that the restrictions imposed on Israeli exhibitors are not being applied to other countries participating in the event.

The ministry accused France of violating accepted international standards for defence exhibitions and said the move unfairly singled out Israel.

It also rejected France's distinction between offensive and defensive military systems.

The ministry said France was "acting in direct contradiction to the principles it claims to uphold," adding that Israeli offensive systems have proven effective against "terrorist organisations and regimes threatening not only Israel, but regional and global stability at large."

TENSIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND ISRAEL GROW

This comes after several months of growing disagreements between the two governments.

In April, Israel's Defence Ministry announced that it would halt all defence procurement from France. Israeli officials said the decision was a response to French actions that allegedly harmed Israel's security interests. Among the complaints raised by Jerusalem was France's reported decision to prevent Israeli aircraft from using French airspace during operations linked to the conflict involving Iran.

The disagreement over Eurosatory is not the first time Israel has faced restrictions at major defence events in France. According to reports, French authorities initially banned Israeli defence firms from participating in the 2024 Eurosatory exhibition before later reversing the decision.

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, organisers drew criticism after erecting black partition walls around Israeli company displays that featured offensive weapons systems.

Eurosatory is not just another trade fair. Held every two years in Paris, it is one of the world's biggest and most influential defence and security exhibitions. The event serves as a major marketplace where countries showcase military technology, strike defence deals and discuss future security challenges.

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With inputs from agencies