Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, announced that his ministry will take legal and diplomatic measures against French President Emmanuel Macron for barring Israeli companies from participating in the Euronaval defense exposition in Paris next month. The French government’s decision prevents Israeli firms from exhibiting at the naval arms trade show scheduled for November 4-7, 2024, although Israeli delegates may still attend the event.
Katz criticized the decision as an “anti-democratic measure” and expressed disappointment over what he called a boycott between “friendly nations.” He further emphasized that Israel, as a key actor in the global fight against radical Islamic regimes, should have France’s support rather than opposition. This marks the second time in 2024 that Israeli defense companies have been excluded from a major French defense show, following a similar incident in May when Israel was barred from Eurosatory, another military trade event.
The Euronaval ban, affecting seven Israeli defense firms, comes amid rising tensions between France and Israel over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Macron’s earlier calls for an arms embargo on Israel, aimed at curbing the violence, have exacerbated diplomatic relations. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called Macron’s actions a “disgrace” and accused France of aiding Israel’s enemies during wartime.
The latest diplomatic rift follows a series of criticisms exchanged between the two countries, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of Macron’s remarks about Israel’s founding and France’s stance on Israeli military actions in Lebanon. France has yet to officially respond to the legal threats from Israel.
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