France Blocks Israeli Arms Booths at Paris Defense Fair

Israel’s Defense Ministry issued a sharp condemnation on Monday after organizers of the Eurosatory international arms exhibition in France reportedly covered the booths of Israeli defense firms with wooden boards overnight. According to the ministry, the fair’s management took the step even though the companies had complied with what it described as France’s “outrageous” demands and were displaying only defensive weapons systems.

The move followed earlier restrictions imposed by the French on Israeli delegations, including a ban on an official national pavilion and a limitation on what could be shown to defensive systems only. The ministry said the physical blocking of the stands in Paris was meant to exclude Israeli technology from the international event.

“It is a cynical, unequal and unsurprising step,” the ministry’s spokesperson said, adding that it was intended “to exclude Israeli technology from an international exhibition, whose quality is proven every day across the Middle East.” The ministry said the boards were used despite the exhibitors meeting the requirements imposed by France.

The Defense Ministry also said it would not retreat from the international arena and would continue promoting Israeli defense exports worldwide. It said France’s efforts would not prevent Israel from showcasing what it called the superiority of its technology, and the report was accompanied by video and photos documenting the blocked pavilions.