Israel’s defence ministry has described the UK government’s decision not to invite an Israeli government delegation to attend defence industry trade show DSEI UK 2025 as a “deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination”.
A UK government spokesperson had said the decision was as a result of Tel Aviv’s escalation of its military operation in Gaza.
Israel responded saying it would be withdrawing and not setting up a national pavilion at Britain’s flagship defence trade show this year, which is scheduled to run at Excel London, 9-12 September. The exhibition is organised by Clarion Defence and Security Limited, with substantial support from the UK government and the armed forces.
Israel’s defence ministry said the UK’s decision on this year’s event “introduces political considerations wholly inappropriate for a professional defence industry exhibition”. But the ministry said Israeli industries that chose to participate would receive its “full support”.
EW asked Clarion to comment. They said:“The UK government holds sole responsibility for issuing official invitations to overseas delegations to attend DSEI UK. The UK government has decided that no Israeli government representatives can attend the event. Israeli industry is able to attend, complying with the UK’s strict export control laws.”
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in October 2023 in response to the Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages back to Gaza.
UK foreign secretary David Lammy called the military escalation in Gaza “morally unjustifiable”.
The UK’s Labour government suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel.
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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