Macron’s office denies ban on Israeli firms at defense show amounts to boycott
French official says Paris supports Israel, but can’t allow weapons used in Gaza or Lebanon to be promoted while president pushes for ceasefire; Israel blasts move as ‘a disgrace’
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Amid anger over French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to ban Israeli firms from exhibiting at a major naval arms show, an official in the Élysée Palace denied on Monday that Israeli companies were being boycotted.
“There was never any intention to prohibit Israeli companies from participating — allowing access, visiting, holding meetings — in trade exhibitions in France,” said the French official. “Israeli companies interested in this will of course be able to enter the Euronaval exhibition. There is nothing in the French government’s position that can be interpreted as a boycott of Israeli companies in Euronaval.”
The official asserted that France’s support for Israel and its right to defend itself “has always been unequivocal and without exception.”
“However,” explained the official, “while French diplomacy is clearly calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon — the only way to curb the escalation and achieve peace and stability in the region — it would be inconsistent to allow any promotion of weapons used in Gaza and Lebanon, which cause unacceptable damage to the civilian population.”
The official said, “We made it clear to the Israeli authorities that the participation of the companies setting up booths must reflect this balance, which is in line with France’s position. Also, companies whose equipment is not used for offensive operations in Gaza and Lebanon will of course be able to set up booths at the exhibition.”
Euronaval, the organizer of the November 4-7 event, said in a statement last week that the French government had informed it that Israeli delegations were not allowed to exhibit stands or show equipment, but could attend the trade show. The decision affected seven firms, it said.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that his ministry would take “legal and diplomatic measures” against Macron’s decision.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Jerusalem will take the issue to French courts, where they will claim illegal discrimination by Macron, who has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s offensives in Gaza and Lebanon.
Writing on X in French and Hebrew, Katz said the “anti-democratic” boycott is unacceptable coming from an ally, and called on France and the West to support Israel, “the only state on the front lines” against the “Iranian axis of evil and radical Islam.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also ripped into the decision, writing on X that Macron’s actions were “a disgrace” and that France had adopted “a hostile policy toward the Jewish people.”
France had previously barred Israeli firms from participating in the Eurosatory military trade show, which took place in Paris in June, as Macron was urging a ceasefire in Gaza.
The French president has provoked outrage in Jerusalem over his call for an arms embargo on Israel earlier this month, saying it was the only way to end the fighting in Gaza and in Lebanon, a former French colony where Paris still wields great influence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had blasted Macron’s statement, calling it “a disgrace,” and “anti-democratic.”
The Times of Israel Community.