French fair shuts Israeli defense booths again, sparking protest

Organizers of the Eurosatory 2026 arms fair in France closed some Israeli company booths overnight, repeating last year’s move. The booths shut down belonged to Smart Shooter, Controp, Orbit and Aeronautics. In response, Controp staff wrote on the wall placed in front of their stand, which effectively blocked it, that the company’s long-range cameras had “defeated Iranian ballistic missiles, but lost to French shortsightedness.”

The closures did not affect all Israeli exhibitors. Only booths showing offensive weapons were sealed, while stands displaying defensive systems, including those of Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael and Elbit, remained open. One representative of the larger companies told ynet, “We are not giving in to the French and we are exhibiting.”

The French government had already barred the opening of the official Israeli pavilion on June 4, in a letter sent by Nicolas Roche, secretary-general of the French counterpart to Israel’s National Security Council, to the Israeli embassy in Paris. The official explanation said the decision was “in line with the French diplomatic position, which seeks peace and stability in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.” Opening the pavilions was made conditional on ballistic expert checks by the National Security Council. Israeli experts believe the targeted products are in direct competition with French defense industry items.

Israeli defense attaché Col. Sagi Fink said, “We will be there and fight for our right to exhibit like everyone else, without regard to politics or commercial competition.” Last year, France also banned official Israeli participation in Eurosatory, held in Paris from June 15 to 18, preventing government and Defense Ministry representatives from attending and blocking a national Israeli pavilion, while allowing private Israeli companies showing defensive weapons.