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France bans Israeli firms from exhibiting at defence fair

Defence Ministry said it was not appropriate to host Israeli companies at the show at a time when the French president was calling for Israel to cease operations in Rafah.

La rédaction de Mediapart

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France has banned Israeli companies from participating in this year's annual Eurosatory arms and defence industry exhibition in Villepinte near Paris next month, the event's organisers and the French Defence Ministry said on Friday, reports Yahoo! News.

"Following a decision by government authorities, there will not be an Israeli stand at the Eurosatory 2024 salon," a spokesperson for the organisers said via email.

The Defence Ministry told Reuters that: "Conditions are no longer met to host Israeli companies at the show at a time when the President is calling for Israel to cease operations in Rafah."

Seventy-four Israeli firms had been set to be represented at the event from June 17 to 21 at fairgrounds close to Paris' main international airport, with Coges previously saying around 10 of them were to exhibit weapons.

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli embassy said it did not wish to comment.

Read more of this report from Yahoo! News.