The organizers of the “Eurosatory” land and air defense exhibition announced on Friday the cancellation of the participation of Israeli military companies in the exhibition scheduled for June 17 near Paris, following a decision by the authorities.
The organizing company, COGES Events, stated: “By decision of the government authorities, there will be no exhibition pavilion for the Israeli military industry sector at Eurosatory 2024,” without providing further details. Neither the company nor the Ministry of the Armed Forces specified the reasons for the decision immediately. However, it comes just days after an Israeli army bombing that killed dozens at a shelter for displaced persons in Rafah, sparking international outrage and leading to numerous protests in France against Israeli military operations in Gaza.
More than 2000 companies registered for the exhibition, including 74 Israeli companies, among which ten major defense industry firms planned to showcase weapons, according to the organizers.
Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, requested that France “reverse” its decision, stating on the X platform: “I spoke with French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and stressed that this decision ultimately rewards terrorism. I requested that France reverse this ban.”
The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France also requested on Friday evening that Paris reverse the decision, calling it a “double mistake, both politically and diplomatically.”
