French court reverses ban on Israeli firms at Paris arms show, says organiser

A French court has reversed a government ban on Israeli firms participating in next week’s Euronaval arms show near Paris, the organisers said on Thursday in confirmation of media reports.

The decision earlier this month to bar Israeli firms from exhibiting at the naval arms show, reported Reuters, is the latest incident in a diplomatic row fuelled by the Macron government’s unease over Israel’s conduct in the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Israeli officials called the move a “disgrace”.

“Sogena, the company organising the Euronaval exhibition, is complying with the court’s ruling, just as it had complied with the government’s previous decision,” said a Euronaval spokesperson in e-mailed comments.

The Paris commercial court, which took the decision in a fast-tracked lawsuit, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

The trade fair, set to take place in Paris from 4 to 7 November, said earlier this month that the French government had informed it that Israeli delegations were not allowed to exhibit or show equipment. The decision affected seven Israeli firms that were due to participate. This was the second time this year that France has sought to ban Israeli firms from a major defence show.

French officials have said repeatedly that Paris is committed to Israel’s security and point out that its military helped defend Israel after Iranian attacks in April and earlier this month.

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