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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
UK blocks Israeli government from major London arms expo
By Christian Edwards, CNN
Updated:
6:45 AM EDT, Fri August 29, 2025
Source: CNN
The government has barred Israeli officials from attending a major arms
fair in London next month, citing Israel’s escalation of its military
campaign in .
“The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its military
operation in Gaza is wrong. As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli
delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025,” a government
spokesperson told CNN.
Israel has previously commanded a large presence at the Defense and
Security Equipment International exhibition, which brings together
governments, militaries and the arms industry for a four-day conference
in the UK capital every other year.
Israel’s defense ministry slammed the British government’s
decision. “These restrictions amount to a deliberate and regrettable
act of discrimination against Israel’s representatives,” a
spokesperson said, confirming that Israel will withdraw from the
exhibition.
The spokesperson said the decision “plays into the hands of
extremists” and “introduces political considerations wholly
inappropriate for a professional defense industry exhibition.”
Removing Israel from the arms expo is the latest in a series of steps
taken by the British government aimed at pressuring Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wind down his war in Gaza and agree to a
ceasefire with Hamas.
Along with the leaders of France and Canada, Prime Minister Keir
Starmer is preparing to recognize a Palestinian state during the United
Nations General Assembly in New York. That summit opens on September 9
– the same day as DSEI in London – and runs until the end of the
month.
Unlike France and Canada, however, Starmer made British recognition of
a Palestinian state conditional on Israel’s actions. Starmer said the
UK will recognize Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel
addresses the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, agrees a ceasefire with
Hamas and commits to a “long-term sustainable peace” and a
two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Since Starmer’s announcement in July, Israel has drastically expanded
its campaign in Gaza and is preparing to occupy Gaza City, the largest
in the enclave.
Justifying its decision to bar Israeli officials from DSEI, the UK
government spokesperson said: “There must be a diplomatic solution to
end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the
hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”
Although Israeli government officials have not been invited, private
Israeli arms companies will still be able to attend, a British Ministry
of Defence spokesperson told CNN.
In June, France shut down stands for major Israeli arms companies,
including Elbit Systems and Rafael, at the Paris Airshow – the
world’s biggest aviation trade fair – for refusing to remove attack
weapons from display.
Despite efforts by several European countries to put diplomatic
pressure on Israel , Europe has continued to purchase arms from Israel.
In August, Elbit Systems announced it had signed a $1.6 billion
contract to deliver a range of defense solutions to an unnamed European
country.
Israel’s arms industry has boomed in recent years. Annual Israeli
arms sales reached a new record in 2024, for the fourth consecutive
year, according to figures released in June by Israel’s defense
ministry.
Israeli arms exports totaled nearly $14.8 billion last year, up from
$13 billion in 2023 and more than double the value of its exports of
five years ago.
Arms exports and military expenditure are surging globally, driven by
major conflicts on multiple continents, according to the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
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