A Paris court has struck down a French government order to exclude Israeli companies from Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest defense and armament exhibitions. The ruling came amidst rising French government criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Eurosatory, a biennial event held northeast of Paris, commenced on Monday without Israeli exhibitors, adhering to a French directive issued in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This directive, which prompted legal challenges, was implemented after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah resulted in significant Palestinian casualties. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed strong condemnation of the strike, declaring that such Israeli military operations “must stop.”
In a follow-up to Macron’s remarks, the French Defense Ministry stated that the environment was not conducive to hosting Israeli firms at Eurosatory while the French government was calling for a cessation of Israeli military actions in Gaza. Consequently, COGES Events, the company managing the show, removed Israeli exhibitors from the event and its promotional materials.
However, the Paris Commercial Court ruled on Tuesday that this exclusion was discriminatory and ordered that the Israeli companies be reinstated at the exhibition. The court’s decision was in response to a lawsuit filed by the France-Israel Chamber of Commerce, which argued that the ban unfairly singled out Israeli firms.
The Eurosatory show features over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, where global military and security officials engage with manufacturers presenting a range of defense technologies, including drones and missiles. Despite the court’s ruling, it remained uncertain whether Israeli companies would be able to participate before the show concluded on Friday. Neither COGES Events nor the French Defense Ministry provided immediate comments on the decision.
The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) welcomed the court’s ruling, describing it as a triumph for reason and fairness.
Legal disputes regarding the ban continue. Pro-Palestinian groups have argued that Eurosatory’s organizers need to enforce stricter measures, alleging that some Israeli companies may be involved in supplying arms to Israeli forces in Gaza. A court in Bobigny supported this view, mandating that COGES Events exclude not just Israeli firms but also intermediaries and representatives for Israeli entities, and ensure that no exhibitors deal with Israeli military products.
Association France Palestine Solidarité, one of the organizations that initiated the suit, praised the ruling, emphasizing the necessity for both political and economic players to actively work towards ending what they describe as Israel’s ongoing actions against Palestinians.
COGES Events, backed by French authorities, has appealed the Bobigny court’s decision, contending that it exceeded the original governmental directive. This appeal is currently under review by the Paris Appeals Court.
The ongoing legal battles highlight the complex intersection of international politics and commercial activities in the defense sector, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and ethical considerations.
