France bans Israeli offensive weapons at trade show

A French artillery piece Caesar is photographed at the Eurosatory land and airland defence and security trade fair on June 13, 2022 in Villepinte, north of Paris. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Schaeffer)

France has banned the display of Israeli offensive weapons at the 2026 edition of the Eurosatory international defence and security exhibition, the organizers told AFP on Monday.

“Only Israeli exhibitors presenting anti-ballistic and anti-air defence systems are authorized,” 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.

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. It fits a deeply troubling pattern in French conduct in recent years,” it added.

Paris has repeatedly condemned since late February Israel’s attacks on Lebanese territory, where it is targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

On Sunday, France requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after the Israeli military seized the crusader-era Beaufort castle in Lebanon, flying its flag over the strategic landmark.

Eurosatory is taking place from June 15 to 19 at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre north of the capital.