France Shuts Israeli Company Stands at Arms Fair Amid Strained Relations

France shut down a dozen Israeli company stands at a major international defence and security exhibition held outside Paris yesterday, a move that has infuriated Israel. The closure highlights the continuing strain in Franco-Israeli relations; France recognised Palestinian statehood last year, and two right-wing Israeli ministers have been barred from entering the country in recent weeks.

Exhibition organiser Coges Events said the stands at the Eurosatory arms and security trade fair were closed due to non-compliance with participation requirements set by French authorities. “As a result, 12 stands had to be closed,” said Coges Events head Charles Beaudouin.

France has banned the exhibition of Israeli offensive weapons at the 2026 fair and has also restricted displays by Israeli companies. “Only equipment and products exclusively related to air defence and ballistic missile defence capabilities,” he stated.

Israel’s defence ministry accused France of closing the Israeli pavilion even though the companies had met what it called the French government’s outrageous demands. It charged that France was trying to hide Israel’s technological superiority from the world. Although the stands of three major Israeli defence contractors, including Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael, remained open on Monday, none displayed weapon models publicly, unlike exhibitors from other nations.

“France is losing a large part of this international market share. And the way they respond is by engaging in inadequate and frankly unfair competition,” said Israel’s Ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka. Eurosatory runs from 15 to 19 June at an exhibition centre north of Paris. Israeli defence companies were also banned from exhibiting at the trade fair in 2024.