According to a report by the Times of Israel on Wednesday 1 April, 2026, Israel is reportedly taking a step back from buying weapons from France, a move that seems tied to a broader push for greater military self-reliance.
According to local media reports, Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram has decided to freeze arms purchases from Paris. The decision hasn’t been officially confirmed, but it’s said to be part of a wider effort to reduce dependence on countries seen as less supportive of Israel during wartime.
Behind the scenes, Baram and Defence Minister Israel Katz are believed to be steering policy toward strengthening domestic production. The idea, at least as described in the reports, is to rely more heavily on Israel’s own defense industry while also shifting procurement toward what officials consider “friendly” nations.
This shift didn’t happen in a vacuum. Relations between Israel and France have been strained since the war in Gaza, with Paris taking steps that Israeli officials viewed as restrictive. French authorities, for instance, barred Israeli firms from certain defense exhibitions and limited the sale of weapons that could be used in ongoing operations.