France bans Israel from defense exhibition, limits Israeli companies to showing defensive weapons

France has officially barred Israel from participating in the upcoming EUROSATORY defense exhibition in Paris, also limiting Israeli defense companies to showcasing only defensive systems. The French government informed the Israeli Defense Ministry of the decision, which prohibits government representatives from attending and establishing a national pavilion.

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The French decision encompasses: a ban on government representatives attending the exhibition; a ban on opening an Israeli national pavilion; and a restriction limiting Israeli defense industries to displaying air defense products only, with offensive systems explicitly excluded.

The Israeli Defense Ministry condemned the French action as "disgraceful" and driven by "political and commercial calculation." The ministry stated that the policy is applied selectively and discriminates against Israel, violating established norms for international defense exhibitions. Despite the restrictions, many Israeli companies are expected to maintain private booths to display defensive weaponry.

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This policy is applied selectively and discriminatorily relative to other participating nations - in direct violation of the established norms governing international defense exhibition.

Israeli sources interpret France's move as an attempt to delegitimize Israel and undermine its competitive standing in the global defense market. These sources also noted the potential for non-democratic countries, some considered international aggressors, to exhibit offensive weapons while Israel faces exclusion.

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This is a disgraceful decision, one that reeks of political and commercial calculation, and regrettably, it comes as no surprise. 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.

This diplomatic friction follows Israel's cancellation of a visit by French defense ministry officials. The cancellation was a protest against French policies concerning Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The ministry further criticized France for using political pretexts to exclude Israeli offensive defense systems, which they claim are superior to French counterparts and crucial for regional stability.

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France, is hiding behind a pretense of political justification to exclude Israeli offensive defense systems from an international forum - systems that have proven far superior to their French counterparts, and that have demonstrated exceptional precision and effectiveness against terrorist organizations and regimes threatening not only Israel, but regional and global stability at large.