Israel Halts All Defense Purchases from France

Israel's Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that it will cease all defense procurement from France, effectively reducing purchases to zero as a response to what it described as Paris's increasingly hostile policies toward Jerusalem. The decision, directed by Ministry Director General Amir Baram and Defense Minister Israel Katz, aims to redirect funds toward Israeli-made equipment or acquisitions from allied nations, amid strained bilateral relations that have worsened since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

The move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries, which have maintained defense ties for decades but diverged sharply over Israel's military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and against Iran. Israel's ministry cited several French actions as particularly damaging, including the denial of overflight rights to U.S. and Israeli aircraft carrying munitions intended for operations against Iran. This incident, highlighted by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week, involved a U.S. plane barred from French airspace despite prior coordination, which Israeli officials called a betrayal that undermined shared security interests in Europe and...