The French President banned Israeli firms from showing their equipment at an arms show in his latest questionable move relating to the Middle East.

International affairs are one of the few remaining areas where Macron, who Thursday is attending an EU summit in Brussels, enjoys political leeway following this summer’s legislative elections which resulted in the centrist overseeing a distinctly right-wing government.

French President Emmanuel Macron has further strained tense relations with Israel with a comment referring o the creation of the Israeli state, a verbal jab that was rapidly denounced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as distorting history.

The French president has been criticised for excluding Israeli firms from showing naval equipment at a weapons show.

Emmanuel Macron is a “disgrace to the French nation”, Israel’s defence minister said on Wednesday after Paris banned Israeli firms from exhibiting at a weapons show.

Israeli delegations taking part in the major defence show Euronaval in France next month will not be permitted to set up a stand or exhibit hardware following a decision by

Emmanuel Macron's comments that Israel owes its existence to a UN resolution have sparked unease in France, with the president given a furious rebuke by the upper house speaker but also facing disquiet from within his own ranks.

The speaker of the French Senate -- the country's second most senior figure under the constitution -- said Thursday he was "astounded" by remarks attributed to Emmanuel Macron on Israel