Israel's defence ministry said on Monday that France had banned Israeli government officials from a major weapons show in Paris, and had imposed restrictions on companies from the country exhibiting there.
The Israeli ministry denounced the move, saying it would "be unable to participate in the exhibition or establish a national pavilion".
"This is a disgraceful decision, one that reeks of political and commercial calculation, and regrettably, it comes as no surprise," the Israeli defence ministry spokesperson said.
"It fits a deeply troubling pattern in French conduct in recent years – a pattern that has consistently placed France on the wrong side of history."
The organisers of the 2026 Eurosatory international defence and security exhibition said Israeli defence systems were authorised to participate in the major weapons show.
"Only Israeli exhibitors presenting anti-ballistic and anti-air defence systems are authorised," said the president of COGES Events, Charles Beaudouin, responding to an Israeli defence ministry statement that protested the restrictions.
"This is a decision by the French government, by the Defence Council," Beaudouin added.
"There is no room for ambiguity: if an exhibitor is also a rocket manufacturer, they will not be allowed to display them. This ensures that no offensive weapons are present," he said.
Tense French-Israeli relations
France's defence ministry – which barred Israel from taking part in the 2024 Eurosatory arms exhibition over the war in Gaza – later said Israeli companies would be limited to showing equipment and materials related to air defence and missile defence, but did not go into any detail on the reasons.
It did not address the report that Israeli officials would not be allowed to attend.
Israeli-French relations have deteriorated since late 2023, with Paris criticising Israel's conduct in its wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and the decision by Israel and the US to launch a war against Iran earlier this year.
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Israel's right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also protested at President Emmanuel Macron's decision last year to recognise Palestinian statehood.
On Sunday, France requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council after the Israeli military seized the crusader-era Beaufort castle in Lebanon, flying its flag over the strategic landmark.
More than 2,600 exhibitors are due to take part in this year's Eurosatory – one of the world's largest weapons shows – which runs from June 15 to 19, at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre north of the capital.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
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