Paris court rules Israel must be allowed to exhibit at Euronaval arms expo

Paris Commercial Court blocks Macron’s second attempt this year to bar Israeli defense firms from a trade show, following petition by Israeli companies and trade groups

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) listens to explanations as he visits a stand at Euronaval, the world naval defense exhibition in Le Bourget near Paris, on October 23, 2018. (Benoit Tessier/Pool/AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) listens to explanations as he visits a stand at Euronaval, the world naval defense exhibition in Le Bourget near Paris, on October 23, 2018. (Benoit Tessier/Pool/AFP)

The Paris Commercial Court ruled Wednesday that the Euronaval arms show cannot keep Israeli companies from exhibiting at the event based on their nationality, and ordered organizers “to suspend the execution of the measures adopted against the Israeli exhibiting companies.”

French President Emmanuel Macron decided earlier this month to ban Israeli firms from exhibiting at the naval arms show, a decision that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called “a disgrace.”

“This is a huge victory for the rule of law and the independence of justice,” said Patrick Klugman, one of the attorneys representing Israeli firms.

“Whatever the stated intention, from the highest level of the State to the organizing company, the action which we had to take note of here was manifestly ill-founded and illegal,” he said.

The petition to overturn the ban was submitted by the Manufacturers Association of Israel, together with the Israel-France Chamber of Commerce, Israel Shipyards, and representatives of five additional Israeli defense firms that have been banned from exhibiting at the event.

Among the Israeli firms represented in the appeal were the country’s largest defense heavyweights, including Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Orbit Communications Systems.

A model of Israeli firm Rafael’s C-Dome is presented at the Euronaval show, in Le Bourget, north of Paris, October 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Some 500 exhibitors are expected to partake in the expo from 30 countries around the world, attracting 25,000 visitors. It will take place November 4-7 in Villepinte, near Paris.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said earlier this month the ministry would take “legal and diplomatic measures” against the decision to bar the firms, which was issued as Macron has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s offensives in Gaza and Lebanon.

Earlier this month, the French president provoked an outcry in Jerusalem over his demand for an arms embargo on Israel, asserting it was the only way to end the fighting in Gaza and in Lebanon, a former French colony where Paris still wields great influence.

The ban from Euronaval was the second time this year that France tried to ban Israeli firms from a major defense show, and had the decision struck down by the Paris Commercial Court.

In May, France said conditions were not right for Israel to participate in the Eurosatory military trade show, and banned Israeli manufacturers. The court overturned the decision, but only after the conference had already begun.

Sharon Wrobel, Agencies and ToI staff contributed to this report.

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