France has banned Israeli companies from participating in next month's arms show. Israel condemned the decision. According to a Reuters report, Israel's Foreign Minister Katz said he would take 'legal and political' action against President Macron.
Foreign Minister Katz said the boycott was an anti-democratic move. Especially a country that is your ally, will not accept this anyway. However, Katz did not say what action he was going to take against the French government.
The Naval Defense Fair is being organized in France from November 4 to 7. Its organizer, the Euronaval Salon, said it was the government's decision not to allow Israeli companies to participate. They are just following it. However, representatives of Israel may participate.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has also criticized this decision of France. He said that this decision of the Macron government is insulting.
Israel's foreign minister said that the French government is adopting a hostile attitude towards the Jewish people.
For the second time in 6 months, the entry of Israeli companies was blocked For the second time in six months, France has barred Israeli companies from participating in a defense fair. France did this earlier in June, according to a report in the Times of Israel. Macron then appealed to Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza, but Netanyahu refused. France took this step after this.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that seven Israeli companies were affected by France's decision. The Netanyahu government may take the issue to a French court. There, Macron could be accused of discrimination.
This picture is from the Defense Fair held in Paris in June. Held every year.
Deteriorating relations between France and Israel Earlier this month, differences between France and Israel grew over the war in Lebanon. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that we can win this war even if France does not support us.
Netanyahu said-
Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas? No. They are together. At a time when Israel is fighting Iranian-led forces, all member states must stand firmly with Israel. Yet President Macron and some other Western leaders are now calling for a ban on arms deliveries to Israel. They should be ashamed.
Indeed, French President Macron said on October 5 that Israel should be banned from sending arms to the war in Gaza. After this the problem should be solved.
Macron's office has also clarified after Netanyahu's statement. He said that France is a friend of Israel. If Iran or its proxies attacked, France would always stand with Israel.
Macron had earlier criticized Israel for firing on United Nations peacekeeping (UNIFIL) troops in southern Lebanon. 10 thousand UNIFIL troops are deployed in Lebanon. It also has 700 French soldiers.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).