It is a decision taken under the influence of tragedy and which could have repercussions on the progress of the Middle East. On May 31, the French authorities announced that Israeli companies would be refused access to Eurosatory, the major arms fair in Paris, from June 17 to 21.
As the days passed, this decision gave rise to a real legal and diplomatic imbroglio, leading to the start of a crisis between France and Israel, while Lebanon seemed on the verge of igniting. “Emmanuel Macron seems to have decided alone on this ban and his decision has created an immense snowball effect, with uncontrolled and potentially major consequences for French diplomacy in the Middle East,” explains a person close to the matter. If the arms fair has just closed its doors, its consequences on the Franco-Israeli relationship are likely to be felt for a long time to come.
74 private Israeli arms fair companies
It all starts on May 26. Despite warnings from its Western allies and European demands for a ceasefire, the Israeli army is bombing the south of the Gaza Strip and the outskirts of Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians are refugees. That evening, a camp for displaced people caught fire after missile fire. Dozens of civilians are killed, including women and children. Images of horror quickly went around the world.
In Paris, the authorities decide that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has crossed the line. On May 31, apparently at the request of the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Defense asked Coges Events, which organizes the Eurosatory arms fair, to prohibit the arrival of 74 Israeli companies specializing in defense. The organizer complies and the Israeli stands, planned for 2500 m², are reallocated. The Ministry of the Armed Forces then explains that “the conditions are no longer met to receive Israeli companies at the French arms fair”.
But the affair does not stop there and will escape the French authorities, when the courts decide to get involved. On June 14, seized by pro-Palestinian organizations, the Bobigny court went further and banned the physical presence of Israelis at Eurosatory, as well as that of those working for Israeli interests. Coges is forced to cancel the badges of more than 850 people. “The coup achieved by these pro-Palestinian organizations is – literally – incredible, admits an Israeli source. This physical ban has been terrible for Israel and for our defense industry, which explains the furious reactions in Jerusalem.”
In Paris, we “take responsibility” for the decision to ban Israeli companies
In the wake of the decision of the Bobigny court, lightning has indeed struck Franco-Israeli relations. In an unusual statement – tweeted in Hebrew, English and French to “ensure that the message gets across” according to a diplomat – Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attacks France, which he accuses of adopt “hostile policies towards Israel”. The head of the Israeli army affirms that his country “will not participate in the committee relating to northern border security proposed by France”, proposed the day before by Emmanuel Macron to resolve the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The initiative of a France-Israel-United States trilateral formation did not survive more than a day.
In Paris, we categorically deny any hostility towards Israel, only recalling “demands” towards the Israeli partner in the conduct of the war in Gaza. “We understand that, from Gallant’s point of view, he is not happy with this decision concerning Eurosatory, but it is accepted”, indicates a French diplomat, who nevertheless underlines “France’s permanent commitment to security of Israel and solidarity in the face of terrorism. And for good reason: Paris proved it on April 13, by participating in the defense of the Hebrew state against the hundreds of missiles and drones sent by Iran.
Decisive military support which has not escaped Israeli diplomacy. Extremely rare, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, publicly contradicted his colleague Gallant, author according to him “incorrect and unnecessary remarks”. “Israel Katz decided to calm things down with France, especially since he returned from a successful visit to Paris, with talks which went well despite disagreements to be clarified, deciphers an Israeli diplomat. France remains a strategic partner of Israel on the issues of Lebanon and Iran.”
A visitor tests a defense simulation program during the Eurosatory international land, air and security exhibition, in Villepinte, a northern suburb of Paris, on June 17, 2024.
© / afp.com/JULIEN DE ROSA
On Monday, the Eurosatory exhibition opened its doors in Villepinte without an Israeli presence or employees of Israeli companies. The next day, June 18, two court decisions overturned those taken by the French government and the Bobigny court: the Paris commercial court and the Court of Appeal ruled that this ban against company employees was illegal. Israelis. “These court decisions came too late for this year’s show, which fell through for Israeli companies, confirms a person familiar with the matter. But the decisions of the French courts could set a precedent on boycott cases and ultimately prove to be a good thing for Israel.”
The matter will not stop there, despite the closing of the doors of the arms fair this Friday, June 21. There will be economic consequences, with undoubtedly millions of euros in damages paid to private Israeli salon companies. There will also be diplomatic consequences. In an interview with Figaro, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu estimated that “the credit granted to France by the Israelis was undermined by the exclusion of exhibitors”.
A feeling shared by Ron Tomer, Israeli business leader, who judges that this boycott has damaged his country’s image on the international scene. “This affair has deeply damaged Franco-Israeli relations,” he said on Kan Radio on Tuesday, after the court decisions in favor of the excluded companies. It is the whole of Israel that has been bruised, not just the defense sector.” In Jerusalem, a far-right municipal councilor demanded that waste no longer be collected in front of the French consulate general. His request was rejected by the municipality. With the hope of better winds for Franco-Israeli relations?
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