France Removes Ban on Israeli Companies Participating in EUROSATORY, Ban on Individuals Still In Place
Israeli firms were barred from attendance in the first few days of this week’s EUROSATORY defense exhibition in Paris. The decision to ban them was made by the French government in late May, causing quite a stir within international elements of the armaments industry, affecting 74 companies set to attend the bi-annual event.
The Macron government enacted the ban after calls for a cease-fire in the conflict with HAMAS were ignored by Israel.
Last week, Bobigny District Court expanded the rule to include not only firms but individual citizens of Israel, including diplomats and other government representatives. Although COGES, the show organizer has appealed this decision, they were forced to provide this document to potential Israeli attendees.
The ban on companies was overturned yesterday by the Paris Commercial court which found it to be discriminatory, declaring a suspension of, “the execution of the measures adopted against the Israeli companies whose stands were prohibited at the EUROSATORY 2024 exhibition, until the closing date of the exhibition.” The case was filed by the France-Israel Chamber of Commerce but unfortunately does not address the ban on individual attendance.
It is unclear at this point if any Israeli firms will bother to show up at EUROSATORY, which continues this week, considering the late action by the court. It is also a question as to whether the individuals who man those booths would be allowed to enter.
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