Israel halts weapons trade with France, citing a "hostile stance," according to sources.
Israel has cut off defense equipment trade with France, according to three senior Israeli sources cited by the Jerusalem Post, with the Ministry of Defense officially confirming the decision. Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Amir Baram, issued the formal order for the cessation, but a decision of such magnitude could only be made if it were also a priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sources told the Jerusalem Post that the move was triggered by the hostile stance adopted by France toward Israel over the last two years, forcing the country to re-evaluate how much it can trust defense cooperation. It remains unclear how exactly this decision will impact both nations, given that France has been boycotting Israeli weapons since the middle of the Israel-Hamas war; however, sources suggest existing contracts will be honored and private firms may still strike individual deals.
Limited cooperation
Economic cooperation remains, but military collaboration has cooled significantly. For larger agreements requiring government participation, and even for Israeli defense products, France may lose out on significant opportunities. Germany and other NATO nations have rushed to purchase Israeli air defense systems and other weaponry in response to new threats from Russia since Moscow initiated the war against Ukraine in 2022.
The problem
The primary points of Israel-France friction include pressure from Paris to end the war in Gaza before Israel felt it could repatriate hostages and neutralize Hamas as a future threat. France also led a wave of Palestinian statehood recognitions in September 2025, an act viewed in Jerusalem as a punishment for continuing the war. Despite these disagreements, France helped Israel defend against Iranian missiles and drones in 2024, and cooperation in intelligence and other sectors may continue. However, President Emmanuel Macron halted the flow of French arms to Israel in late 2024, citing the humanitarian impact of the war in Gaza, and has blocked Israeli defense firms from international exhibitions over the last two years.
Hostile France
The Ministry of Defense stated that it views French government policy "with grave concern," as it undermines security cooperation with Israel—a country on the front line against Iran protecting Western security. France is actively obstructing the transfer of munitions to Israel, which is engaged in operations against Iran—a nation whose ballistic missiles can reach European cities, including Paris, the Ministry stated. Given these developments, Amir Baram "decided to reduce all defense purchases from France to zero, replacing them with domestic Israeli purchases or acquisitions from allies."
Israeli autonomy
According to the Ministry's strategy, "Israel will continue to develop full defensive autonomy, without relying on unreliable countries" that prioritize political games over the security of Western citizens. The National Security Council and the Ministry of Defense informed the French Minister of the Armed Forces that they "do not intend to hold any further meetings and there will be no new professional cooperation with the French military." It is recalled that US President Donald Trump criticized Macron and France for a "very unhelpful stance" in the war with Iran, noting that France blocked flights to Israel loaded with military equipment from passing through French airspace.
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