As France bans it from Eurosatory, Israel says weapons exports at record high

Rina Bassist , Jack Dutton

Jun 17, 2024

US marines lean on a Abraham tank during the Eurosatory international land, air defence and security trade fair, in Villepinte, a northern suburb of Paris, on June 17, 2024. — JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

PARIS — Representatives from Israeli companies were barred Monday from entering the prestigious Eurosatory defense fair held in Paris, after the French government decided last month to ban Israeli defense companies from participation in the event due to the ongoing military operation in Gaza.

The decision to bar Israel from Eurosatory was first announced late last month by the French Defense Ministry. "The conditions are no longer ripe for welcoming Israeli companies to the French show, at a time when the French President [Emmanuel Macron] is calling for an end to Israeli operations in Rafah," the French Defense Ministry said in a statement, resulting in the exclusion of roughly 70 Israeli companies.

More than 1,700 companies from 62 countries are participating in the fair, one of the world's largest defense shows.

Israeli officials responded angrily to the French government's decision. Former member of the Israeli war cabinet Benny Gantz called on French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to rethink the situation, stating, "I emphasized to him that the decision ultimately rewards terror and asked that France reconsider the decision."