“Outrageous and unprecedented”: Israel slams France over air show weapon ban
Israel accuses France of political censorship after last-minute order walls off Elbit, Rafael, IAI, and Uvision stands.
France has shut down the four main Israeli company stands at the Paris Airshow for apparently displaying bombs and other offensive weapons, in a move condemned by Israel that highlights the growing tensions between the traditional allies.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday that the instruction came from French authorities after Israeli firms failed to comply with a direction from a French security agency to remove offensive or kinetic weapons from the stands.
The stands were being used by Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI and Uvision. Three smaller Israeli stands, which didn't have hardware on display, and an Israeli Ministry of Defence stand, remain open.
France, a long-time Israeli ally, has gradually hardened its position on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu over its actions in Gaza and military interventions abroad.
French President Emmanuel Macron made a distinction last week between Israel’s right to protect itself, which France supports and could take part in, and strikes on Iran it did not recommend.
Israel's defence ministry said it had categorically rejected the order to remove some weapons systems from displays, and that exhibition organisers responded by erecting a black wall that separated the Israeli industry pavilions from others.
This action, it added, was carried out in the middle of the night after Israeli defence officials and companies had already finished setting up their displays.
"This outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations," the ministry said in a statement.
"The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition - weapons that compete with French industries."
Meshar Sasson, senior vice president at Elbit Systems, condemned the French decision.
"If you cannot beat them in technology, just hide them right? That’s what it is because there’s no other explanation," he said, pointing to a series of contracts that Elbit has won in Europe.
Rafael described the French move as "unprecedented, unjustified, and politically motivated," adding it fully supported the Israeli ministry of defense's decision not to comply with the order to remove some equipment from display.
The air show's organizer said in a statement that it was in talks to try to help "the various parties find a favorable outcome to the situation."
The Paris Air Show is considered the world’s most prestigious defense exhibition, where every ambitious and competitive company seeks to make an impact. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron barred Israeli participation in two major arms fairs in an attempt to pressure Israel to halt the war in Gaza. That political stance incidentally benefited French defense firms by removing Israeli competitors from the international stage, particularly at a time when global demand for advanced weaponry is surging.
In recent days, senior Israeli security officials did not rule out the possibility that Macron may once again try to block Israeli participation, this time at the last minute. Even if no formal ban was imposed, the exhibition is expected to be accompanied by widespread protests and demonstrations from pro-Palestinian and BDS activists targeting Israeli companies due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
