Israel decides to "retaliate" against France

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Reference News Network, April 1 According to a report by AFP on March 31, the spokesperson of the Israeli Ministry of Defense said to AFP on Tuesday (31) that Israel will reduce its military imports from France “to zero” in retaliation for France’s policies that Israel believes harm its interests.

The spokesperson said: “The Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Amir Baram, has decided to reduce defense purchases from France to zero; the relevant funds will be redirected to procurement from Israel’s domestic market or from allied countries.”

According to information from the French Parliament, Paris does not directly export weapons to Israel, but will export components used for defense systems or for re-export to third countries.

The latest report on arms sales released by the French Parliament shows that between 2015 and 2024, the total value of military equipment Israel purchased from French defense companies was about $260 million. The report also noted that France’s global arms sales exceeded $25 billion in 2024.

An Israeli spokesperson added that this decision was made in retaliation for multiple initiatives taken by the French government that are viewed as hostile toward Israel.

These initiatives include recognizing the State of Palestine, excluding Israel from the French defense exhibition, and most recently “banning Israeli aircraft carrying ammunition used to wage war against Iran from flying over French airspace.”

The Israeli Ministry of Defense accused France of “harming Israel’s defense activities and the strategic cooperation between the two countries,” and said it has “serious” concerns about these moves. (Compiled by Liu Zongya)