The Director General of the Ministry of Defense of Israel, Brigadier General Amir Baram, has ordered a complete halt to arms purchases from France, Israeli media reports.
The decision was made by the ministry as part of a broader effort to cut contracts with states hostile to Israel. Instead of purchasing from France, the ministry will switch to domestic production and buy equipment from friendly countries.
The move follows a series of actions taken by France since the beginning of the war, which Jerusalem perceived as hostile. Paris has banned Israeli representatives from participating in defense exhibitions and conferences held on its territory, and has supported calls for an arms embargo against Israel.
The procurement freeze is part of a broader effort by the defense minister and the ministry chief to expand the domestic defense production base.
Almost all of Israel's arms imports come from two countries, the United States and Germany, while other countries account for about 1% of imports. It is not about French supplies. It is possible that they are dual purpose products.
