This is an event which could further cool relations between France and Israel, in a context of tensions already increasing for several weeks. This Wednesday, October 16, the organizers of the Euronaval defense exhibition, scheduled for early November in Paris, announced that there would ultimately be no stands or Israeli defense equipment. An announcement made at the request of the French government. Paris “announced on Tuesday October 15 to Euronaval its decision to validate the participation of Israeli delegations in the Euronaval 2024 exhibition, without stands or exhibition of equipment”, specified in a press release the organization of the exhibition, according to which “seven companies Israelis are affected by this decision. Israeli delegations will still be able to attend the event.
Israel was quick to react through its sulphurous Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. On his X account, he accused President Emmanuel Macron of bringing “shame” to France after this ban decision taken by the French authorities. “The decision to discriminate a second time against the Israeli defense industry in France helps Israel’s enemies in times of war,” he said, believing that the French state ” has adopted and is implementing a hostile policy toward Israel.
A precedent at the Defense show
“Euronaval is preparing to welcome each company and each visitor in compliance with international and government directives. Nearly 500 companies and 22,000 visits are expected for the 29th edition of the show” from November 4 to 7 at the Paris-Nord exhibition center Villepinte, recalled the organizers.
This is the second time in several months that Israeli defense companies have been banned from participating in an arms fair in France. At the end of May, the presence of Israeli defense industrialists at the Eurosatory defense and land security exhibition, one of the largest in the world, was canceled by government decision against a backdrop of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. A ruling later overturned this decision, but it was too late for Israeli companies to make the move.
Growing tensions
France’s ban on the Euronaval is the latest in a series of diplomatic spats between President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli military steps up attacks in Gaza and the Lebanon. In recent days, the tone has risen between the French president and the Israeli Prime Minister.
While Paris insistently calls for a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon and denounces Israeli strikes in both cases, as well as Israeli fire deemed “deliberate” against positions of the peacekeepers of the force of peace in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), several of whom were injured, Israel sticks to its positions and denounces France’s attitude. On October 5, the French president also called to “stop providing weapons to carry out the fighting in Gaza”, in a message addressed mainly to the United States. “Shame!”, the Israeli Prime Minister exclaimed in a video, saying that “all civilized countries should stand firmly alongside Israel” which “is fighting the forces of barbarism led by Iran”.