Tel Aviv: The French government’s decision to hide the displays of some Israeli defence companies in Eurosatory 2026 by surrounding them with wooden boards, achieved the opposite results planned by them.
A source in the Israeli defence industry said that the French act increased the interest in the hidden systems on display. “We were flooded by at least the double number of visitors that even used some methods to see what the French tried to hide.”
According to the Israeli ministry of defence, Israeli defence attracted significant international interest, welcoming a steady stream of visitors and dozens of official delegations from around the world. Representatives from defence ministries, armed forces, security organisations, and defence companies visited Israeli booths to explore advanced technologies and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
The strong engagement came despite the French government’s decision to ban the establishment of an Israeli national pavilion, prohibit the participation of official representatives, and restrict the display of Israeli products. Nevertheless, international delegations actively sought out Israeli companies during the exhibition, holding meetings and discussions focused on defence cooperation, technological innovation and commercial partnerships.
According to an official release of the defence ministry, the strong international demand for Israeli technologies, even in the face of France’s restrictions, underscores the industry’s reputation for innovation, reliability, and operational relevance.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
