Judicial victory against Israel’s Exclusion from the Eurosatory Exhibition of Defense and Security

From June 17 to 22, 2024 was held in Villepinte the Eurosatory International Terrestrial Defense and Security exhibition, where 2,000 exhibitors from many countries are expected to attend. On May 31, the French government announced there was to be “no stall of the Israeli Defense Industry” during the exhibition's 2024 edition.

On June 14, the Bobigny Court first forbade any Israeli or affiliated arsenal companies from attending and any Israeli or intermittent delegations at the exhibition. The Business Paris Court eventually ordered the reintegration of Israeli companies a few days later.

While the presence of all Israeli or affiliated arsenal companies, as well as all Israeli or intermittent delegations at the exhibition was forbidden, visitors discovered on the first day of the event, “The paper of shame" :

“Ever since the opening of the Eurosatory Exhibition of Defense and Security [Monday morning], the only Israelis or representatives of an Israeli company were constrained to sign a declaration saying they did not work for an Israeli defense company to enter.”

Crif President Yonathan Arfi reacted on X, indicating: “It no longer acts as just prohibiting a stall to Israeli companies, a decision to boycott already scandalous, but very well of stigmatizing and of censuring Israelis themselves! Obscene discrimination. Two judicial decisions should be given tomorrow morning. The judicial system must have the courage and clear-sightedness to condemn these slanderous practices, unworthy of France.”

Crif President also spoke with the Eurosatory exhibitions director.

That same night, Eurosatory reacted to Crif President tweet, indicating this “form [was] a very unfortunate initiative, decided with the urgency of the judicial system’s decision of June 14. The COGES apologized and reminded; it appealed against the Bobigny Court’s decision. ” The organizers of the Eurosatory exposition had also indicated repealing, on June 15, the prohibition from the judicial system of Israeli industrialists of arsenal at this event.

The day after, the Business Court finally ordered the suspension of the prohibition of exposing aim at the Israeli companies, judging this measure “unfairly biased.”

The judicial system was mainly suspended by the Chamber of Commerce France-Israel, represented by Patrick Klugman, Coges Events, represented by Patrick Maisonneuve, and the Israeli society Draco, represented by the Veil Jourde office after the boycott of the weapons manufacturer decreed by the French government.