French security expo shuts down Israeli booths amid accusations of discrimination

At the International Defense and Security Exhibition in Paris, organizers have barred at least 11 Israeli companies from displaying their products, saying they did not meet the event’s requirements. The closures have triggered anger from Israeli exhibitors, who say they complied with every instruction and were abruptly locked out after being initially approved.

Orbit CEO Danny Ashchar said French officials inspected his company’s stand the night before the exhibition opened and told them everything was in order. “We were good kids and complied with everything,” he said. “An hour and a half later we got an email like thieves in the night, saying, ‘We are sorry, on second thought, during the night we will block your booth.’”

Kontron CEO Yuval Miller said he was not surprised, pointing to a similar incident last year during Operation With All Its Might, when Israeli defense booths in Paris were also blocked. “We did 100%, 100% of the instructions,” he said, calling the move political and adding that it included “elements of antisemitism.” Ashchar also argued the closures were aimed only at Israeli defense firms and said there was “definitely” discrimination.

Both executives said the issue goes beyond business competition. Miller rejected the idea that it was merely a commercial dispute and said the French market is highly competitive. Ashchar said French organizers routinely steer delegations toward French defense companies and away from Israeli ones, especially Israeli exhibitors. Miller ended by saying that even if they are pushed out, “we will come in through the window,” and noted that Israeli defense orders over the past year reached $19 billion, an all-time high.