France backs down on decision to ban 8 Israeli firms in defense expo
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France reverses move to bar Israeli arms firms from Milipol Paris 2025 amid concerns over protests and tensions linked to the war on Gaza.
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Armored vehicles on display at the Milipol Paris 2024 Expo (X/ @Milipol_Paris)
The French government has decided to allow all Israeli companies to participate in an upcoming defense exhibition in Paris.
This follows Israeli media reports that a ban targeted eight specific Israeli firms; however, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot rushed to inform his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, of the ban reverse.
“French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke a short while ago with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and informed him that all Israeli companies will be permitted to participate in the exhibition," the Israeli foreign minister's office said in a statement.
A French official familiar with the matter claimed that the decision to permit all companies to attend was made independently by France and was not a result of Israeli pressure.
Israeli Channel 12 reported earlier in the day that following a review of the 45 Israeli companies expected to take part in the Milipol Paris exhibition from November 18–25, France notified "Israel" it would bar eight firms from the event without specifying which ones.
Pressure or no pressure?
France originally said the participation of the unspecified eight companies "would pose a problem" but clarified that the other Israeli firms would be permitted to attend, ultimately causing outrage from Israeli officials.
This comes after French authorities reportedly expressed concern that allowing the Israeli companies to attend could provoke protests and unrest from pro-Palestinian organizations.
However, Channel 12 reported that Israeli officials were stunned by the French original ban decision, given the current ceasefire in Gaza, warning that it would further damage highly strained ties with France and threatening to issue harsh diplomatic and public responses.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that “such a move will have dramatic consequences for relations between the two countries.”
France bans 'Israel' from defense expos over war on Gaza
This incident is part of a recurring pattern of clashes between "Israel" and France during the two-year war on Gaza concerning the involvement of Israeli defense companies in international arms fairs, a point of contention that previously manifested at the Paris Air Show in June, when French officials installed black partitions to conceal Israeli displays of offensive weaponry.
In May 2024, the French government announced that firms from “Israel” would not be permitted to exhibit at the land‑defence trade fair Eurosatory 2024 in Villepinte, on the grounds that “conditions are no longer met to host Israeli companies at the show… while the president is calling for Israel to cease operations in Areeha."
In October 2024, authorities took a similar step for the naval defence show Euronaval 2024, stating that Israeli delegations could attend only “under conditions” and would not be allowed to set up stands or exhibit equipment.
In June 2025, at the Paris Air Show 2025 in Le Bourget, French organisers closed several major Israeli exhibitor booths, including those of Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries, by erecting partitions after the companies displayed offensive‑weaponry items that France deemed in conflict with its policy.
