The United Kingdom government has banned Israel’s authorities from participating in a defense industry fair that will be held in London in September.
“The Israeli government’s decision to further intensify its military operation in Gaza is a mistake. As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli delegation will be invited to participate in DSEI UK [sigla em inglês para Feira Internacional de Equipamentos de Defesa e Segurança do Reino Unido] From 2025, ”said a spokesman for the Government of the Keir Strmer Labor Premier to CNN.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Israel criticized the British government’s decision in statements to the American broadcaster.
“These restrictions constitute a deliberate and unfortunate act of discrimination against Israeli representatives,” said the spokesman, who said Israel will withdraw from the exhibition and accused the British government of making “the game of extremists” and introduce “totally inappropriate political considerations for professional defense industry exposure.”
The veto to the presence of Israeli authorities at the fair is the latest chapter in diplomatic tensions with the British.
In July, Strmer announced that his government will recognize a Palestinian state in September, if Israel does not solve what the premier called “catastrophic situation” in the Gaza Strip, promote a ceasefire and commit to the solution of two states in the region.
In June, the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway had announced that Itamar Ben-Gvir, National Security Minister, and Israel Minister Bezalel Smotrich, were banned from entering these countries and had their assets in these blocked nations.
They were accused of inciting “extremist violence and serious human rights abuses of Palestinians” in the West Bank.
