France has banned the presentation of Israeli offensive weapons during the 2026 edition of the Eurosatory* exhibition, which will be held in June near Paris, organizers said on Monday. “Only Israeli exhibitors who will present anti-ballistic and anti-aircraft defense systems are allowed,” declared the president of COGES Events, Charles Beaudouin.
He was questioned after a press release from the Israeli Defense Ministry, which protested against these restrictions.
“It is a choice of the French government, of the Defense Council. And, personally, I find that this deserves to be clear,” continued Mr. Beaudouin. “There is no possible ambiguity: if an exhibitor is also a rocket manufacturer, he will not be able to show them. This avoids any offensive weapon,” he stressed.
“A shameful decision”
The Israeli ministry denounced the decision, deploring being “unable to participate in the show or install a national pavilion.” “It is a shameful decision, which smacks of political and commercial calculation, and regrettably, it does not come as a surprise. It corresponds to a deeply troubling pattern in France’s behavior in recent years,” he wrote.
Paris has repeatedly condemned Israel’s attacks on the territory of Lebanon since the end of February. On Sunday, France requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after the Israeli army seized the iconic medieval Beaufort fortress to fly the Israeli flag.
*Eurosatory will take place from June 15 to 19, at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center.
