Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that he has directed his ministry to commence legal proceedings against French President Emmanuel Macron following France’s decision to ban Israeli firms from participating in an upcoming military naval trade show.
This ban is the latest development in a growing rift between Israel and France, sparked by the Macron government’s concerns regarding Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
Euronaval, the organiser of the event scheduled for November 4-7 in Paris, stated last week that the French government had informed them that Israeli delegations would not be permitted to exhibit or display equipment at the naval trade show. However, they could still attend as participants. The ban impacts seven Israeli firms, according to the organisers.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Katz expressed his discontent, saying, “I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to take legal and diplomatic action against the French President’s decision to prevent Israeli companies from showcasing their products at the @SalonEuronaval exhibition next month.”
Katz condemned the repeated boycotts of Israeli companies and the imposition of “unacceptable conditions” as undemocratic measures that are inappropriate between allied nations. He called on President Macron to completely revoke the ban.