Israel's defense minister is canceling a planned visit to Paris amid threats by pro-Palestinian groups to have him arrested there.

Ehud Barak was to dedicate a new Israeli booth at the Eurosatory arms fair in Paris, which opens this week. But his office announced Sunday that he would stay home while Israel forms a committee to investigate its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

Pro-Palestinian activists had threatened to try to have charges brought against him for his role in the raid, which killed nine Turkish activists at sea.

Activists have previously tried to arrest Barak and other Israeli officials in Europe under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

That principle allows the prosecution of suspected war criminals in countries that have no direct connection with the events.