'Outrageous Closure...': Israel Slams France After Its Weapons Stands Shut At Paris Airshow

Last Updated:June 16, 2025, 20:29 IST

France, a long-time Israeli ally, has gradually hardened its position on Benjamin Netanyahu-led government over its actions in Gaza and military interventions abroad.

Attendees walk past the closed Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Israeli Pavillon during the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show at the Paris–Le Bourget Airport. (AFP)

French organisers have shut down the the four main Israeli company stands at the Paris Airshow for apparently displaying bombs and other offensive weapons, in a move condemned by Israel as “outrageous" and highlighting tensions between the traditional allies.

A source familiar with the matter told news agency 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 used by Elbit Systems, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Uvision were covered by black walls. Three smaller Israeli stands, which didn’t have hardware on display, and an Israeli Ministry of Defence stand, remained open. These companies make drones and guided bombs and missiles.

IAI’s president and CEO, Boaz Levy, said the black partition walls were reminiscent of “the dark days of when Jews were segmented from European society."

France, a long-time Israeli ally, has gradually hardened its position on Benjamin Netanyahu-led government 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 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.

The presence of Israeli firms at Le Bourget, though smaller than in the past, was already a source of tension before the start of the Paris Air Show, because of the conflict in Gaza.

Israel Condemns Order

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.

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," it said.

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

France Defends Move

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

Bayrou said it had told all exhibitors ahead of the show that offensive weapons would be prohibited from display and that Israel’s embassy in Paris had agreed to this. It added that the companies could resume their exhibits if they complied with this requirement.

Bayrou told reporters that given France’s diplomatic stance, and "in particular its …very great concern about Gaza", the government had felt it unacceptable for attack weapons to be on 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.

(With inputs from agencies)

Paris, France

News world 'Outrageous Closure...': Israel Slams France After Its Weapons Stands Shut At Paris Airshow