While France is providing support to Israel in its conflict with Iran, utilising its jet fighters to intercept drones and ballistic missiles in the Jordanian airspace, Paris has imposed a ban on Israeli companies from showcasing offensive weaponry at the arms fair held in Le Bourget. On Monday, June 16, the opening of the arms fair at Le Bourget was marked by a diplomatic discord, following directives from the French government who asked the event organizers to instal walls around five out of the seven Israeli defense manufacturers booths (Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit, and Aeronautics). These firms were exhibiting offensive armaments in defiance of the directives issued by the French Government. After years of surrounding Gaza with barriers, walls and fences (The Siege), the once-dominant Israeli defense industry now finds itself quarantined, like a lethal virus, at one of the world’s largest air defence exhibitions.
Black barriers surrounded the booths of Israeli defense firms, which was to be expected given that Paris had previously notified its “Israeli counterparts that no Israeli offensive weaponry would be permitted for display” at the exhibition. In a communication to Agence France-Presse, the Quai d’Orsay (French Foreign Ministry) stated:
“From the beginning, we have provided a clear framework, which was shared with the Israelis, namely the ban on displaying offensive weapons at the Paris Air Show. The Israeli embassy in Paris has given its agreement to this.”
VIDEO: At the Paris Air Show, the Israeli pavilion’s arms were hidden behind a black wall just before the opening (Source: The Huffington Post)
.
During his visit to the Paris Air Show, the French Prime Minister François Bayrou ultimately provided his account of the situation. He stated that offensive weapons “should not have been present at this show,” while speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of this significant event for the aviation and defense sectors, adding:
“France considers that there is a terrible situation for the people of Gaza, from a humanitarian and security point of view, extremely difficult. France wanted to demonstrate that offensive weapons should not have been present at this show.“
Israel’s defence ministry rejected the order to remove some weapons systems from displays, forcing the exhibition organisers to enforce the French government decision by erecting a black partition that separated the Israeli industry pavilions from others. In retaliation, the Israelis wrote on the black wall a message praising the qualities of their weapons whilst accusing the French Government of discrimination.
IMAGE: Black wall erected at the Paris airshow on Monday, 16 to hide Israeli defense pavilion (Source: Mathieu Rabechault/AFP)
The Israeli Defence Ministry asserted that this measure aimed to hinder established Israeli Defense systems from rivalling French armaments, framing the French government’s choice as influenced by political and commercial interests. However, the truth surrounding this decision is markedly distinct from the assertions made by the Israelis and is rooted in the actions of the French populace and non-governmental organisations, which have exerted pressure on the French government regarding the Gaza Genocide and France’s failure to denounce Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity. Libnanews has the story…
IMAGE: French police patrol the stand of the Israel defence Ministry at the Paris airshow. (Source: Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA)
Libnanews reports…
Diplomatic tensions at the Paris Air Show: France blocks Israeli stands for offensive weapons exhibition
A French decision with strong diplomatic significance
On Monday morning, as the prestigious Paris Air Show opened in Le Bourget, near Paris, five Israeli arms companies were abruptly barred from their stands by a decision of the French government. Black tarpaulins several meters high were installed, completely concealing the exhibits of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Elbit, Uvision, and Aeronautics. This unprecedented measure specifically targeted equipment designated as “offensive weapons” potentially be used in the Gaza conflict.
The reason given by the French authorities is based on an alleged violation of the terms agreed between the exhibition organisers and the Israeli authorities. The contract allegedly specified the exhibition conditions, including the nature of the weapons permitted, and these companies allegedly ignored these restrictions.
Israeli industrialists in the crosshairs
The five companies involved are among the most influential in the Israeli military industry. IAI, Rafael, and Elbit are known for producing guided missiles, air defense systems, and smart bombs. Uvision and Aeronautics specialise in manufacturing attack and reconnaissance drones. Some of these technologies are regularly associated with Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza.
The ban on access to the stands did not affect all Israeli participants. Four other companies from Israel were able to maintain their presence at the show, but the media and diplomatic impact of this affair extended far beyond the industrial sphere.
Israel’s immediate reaction: indignation and accusations
The Israeli government was quick to react. In an official statement, it called the French decision “scandalous and unprecedented,” denouncing it as a form of “segregation” against Israeli companies. President Isaac Herzog also spoke on French television to express his outrage.
“It’s like creating an Israeli ghetto,” he declared on LCI. He denounced a decision he considered political and unacceptable in the context of a trade show supposed to promote industrial cooperation and technological innovation. The president demanded an immediate correction of this measure, in the name of the contractual commitments made by the companies concerned.
Political issues in the background
This affair cannot be separated from the current political and diplomatic context. For several months, Franco-Israeli relations have been under strain, particularly due to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and divergent positions on international humanitarian law. The exhibition of military equipment used or likely to be used in sensitive conflict zones exacerbates criticism of Israel by parts of French civil society and the political class.
The French government finds itself caught between two conflicting imperatives: on the one hand, its commitment to respecting the principles of international law, and on the other, its strategic relationship with a major technological partner in the Middle East. The decision taken at Le Bourget reflects a decision in favor of the first option.
Growing pressure from NGOs and civil society
This ban follows several weeks of pressure from French and international NGOs. In advance of the event, these NGOs had called for an outright ban on all Israeli participation in the Paris Air Show, citing the alleged involvement of these companies in military operations in occupied territory. Legal proceedings were even initiated, unsuccessfully, to obtain a suspension of their presence.
Although the legal action failed, media pressure and the arguments put forward by NGOs clearly had an impact, prompting the French authorities to more strictly regulate the nature of the equipment on display. The sanction imposed on Monday, therefore, marks a symbolic victory for civil society actors mobilised against arms proliferation.
Impact on economic diplomacy
France traditionally hosts the Paris Air Show as a showcase for its aerospace industry and economic diplomacy. The exclusion of certain exhibitors for political reasons is extremely rare, if not unprecedented. This decision could have medium-term consequences for trade relations between France and Israel, particularly in the defense sector.
Some Israeli officials are already discussing diplomatic retaliation. The Israeli Defense Ministry has denounced the move as guided “by political and commercial considerations” rather than technical criteria. Bilateral discussions on technological cooperation could thus be affected by this crisis.
The Paris Air Show under pressure
The incident comes at a trade show already marked by a tense geopolitical context. The current edition welcomes 2,400 exhibitors from 48 countries. Among them, approximately 75 are directly involved in the production or marketing of weapons. In a global climate of hybrid warfare, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and international tensions, ethical issues related to arms exports are becoming increasingly central.
The show’s organisers have attempted to maintain a balanced position, citing their compliance with government guidelines and their commitment to commercial neutrality. (…)
Divergent international reactions
The ban on Israeli exhibits sparked mixed reactions within the international community. Some European officials supported the French decision, seeing it as a necessary reminder to respect international standards in the arms industry. Others, particularly in the United States, expressed concern that it could set an awkward precedent for future military exhibitions.
This case could also reignite the debate on the rules for participation in international arms trade shows. Transparency regarding the products on display, end-use conditions, and the ethical implications of certain military technologies are all topics likely to be included in future regulatory frameworks.
A matter that goes beyond the framework of the living room
More than just a logistical incident, the Israeli booth incident at the Paris Air Show is part of a broader ideological clash over the role of arms companies in contemporary conflicts. It illustrates the limits of economic diplomacy in a world fragmented by the logic of war and asymmetric security.
The media visibility of this affair and the personal involvement of heads of state testify to its highly symbolic nature. It also raises a fundamental question: can technological innovation and political responsibility be separated in the field of defense?
READ MORE ISRAEL NEWS AT: 21st CENTURY WIRE ISRAEL FILES
SUPPORT OUR INDEPENDENT MEDIA PLATFORM – BECOME A MEMBER @21WIRE.TV
VISIT OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL
