France shuts Israeli weapons booths at Paris Air Show

Geopolitical tensions roiled the opening of the Paris Air Show on Monday as French authorities sealed off Israeli weapons industry booths amid the conflicts in Iran and Gaza, a move that Israel condemned as "outrageous."

The decision added drama to the major aerospace industry event, which was already under the shadow of last week's deadly crash of Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Black walls were installed around the stands of five Israeli defence firms at the trade fair in Le Bourget, an airfield on the outskirts of Paris.

The booths displayed "offensive weapons" that could be used in Gaza — in violation of agreements with Israeli authorities, a French government source told AFP.

A security personnel works to hide a graffiti reading "Behind these walls are the best defence systems used by many countries.These systems are protecting the state of Israel these days. The French government, in the name of discrimination is trying to hide them from you!," on a panel of the Israeli Pavillon during the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show at the Paris豊e Bourget Airport. AFP

The companies — Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit and Aeronautics — make drones and guided bombs and missiles.

An Israeli exhibitor wrote a message in yellow chalk on one of the walls, saying the hidden defence systems "are protecting the state of Israel these days. The French government, in the name of discrimination is trying to hide them from you!"

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou defended the decision during a Monday press conference at the air show.

"The French government's position was very simple: no offensive weapons at the arms exposition," he said.
"Defensive weapons were perfectly acceptable," he added.

Conflicts loom large

Bayrou cited the ongoing conflict in Gaza as the rationale behind the ban. "Given the situation in Gaza... which is extremely serious from a humanitarian and security point of view, France was keen to make it clear that offensive weapons should not be present at this exposition," Bayrou said.

Riot police officers patrol by the blocked Rafael stand and Israeli pavilions at the Paris Air Show. AP

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked by the "outrageous" closure of the pavilions and said the situation should be "immediately corrected."

"Israeli companies have signed contracts with the organisers... it's like creating an Israeli ghetto," he said on French television channel LCI.

The Israeli defence ministry said in a statement that the "outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations."

"The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries," it said.

Workers put a white canvas over a black wall that blocks the Israeli pavilions and that has been erected at the Paris Air Show. AP

"This is particularly striking given Israeli technologies' impressive and precise performance in Iran."

Israel launched surprise strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on Friday, killing top commanders and scientists, prompting Tehran to hit back with a barrage of missiles.

Agence France-Presse