The Paris Air Show began in a tense political atmosphere, with Israeli arms companies’ stands blocked off by black barriers in the morning. The Israeli government, which has been at war with Iran since Friday, has been under international criticism for its operations in Gaza. At the request of the French government, the fair’s organizer, SIAE, issued an order that certain Israeli weapons systems should not be exhibited, a move that was widely echoed at the show.
Hidden Stands and Reactions
On the first day of the Paris Air Show, the stands of major Israeli defense companies such as Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems were completely hidden by black barriers more than two meters high. Passersby could only see the tips of large missiles and a drone suspended from the ceiling from a distance.
The Israeli Defense Ministry representative at the show said Israeli participants were instructed late Sunday evening to remove “some” of their equipment within a few hours. According to the official, there was insufficient time to remove parts of the facilities because lifting and packing equipment was not available that day. In response, the Paris Air Show organizers built the walls overnight, according to the Israeli official.
In response, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (GOP Alabama) arrived on the scene to show solidarity with Israeli officials. “It’s completely unacceptable that Israel can’t come to an air show where you’re accredited, screened, and so on,” one official told Defense News. Senator Britt was under the impression that the Israeli booth had been spray-painted with graffiti or otherwise vandalized, but the Israeli representative said no such incident occurred.
Israel’s “Shameless and Unprecedented” Reaction to Decision
Nine Israeli defense companies were scheduled to participate in this year’s Paris Air Show, including Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, Rafael, UVision Air and others whose weapons are used by the Israel Defense Forces in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war and the military conflict with Iran.
The Israeli Defense Ministry called the French decision “shameless and unprecedented,” adding that it was “motivated by political and commercial considerations.” Israeli officials have particularly highlighted the missile sector, in which France competes and which is receiving increasing attention due to rising global geopolitical tensions and the increasing use of Israeli defense systems in current conflicts. This reinforces claims that commercial competition is also behind the decision.
Explanation and Dialogue Efforts from the Fair Organizer
In a statement, fair organizer SIAE confirmed that the incident occurred on the orders of French authorities: “SIAE complied with the instructions of the relevant French authorities prior to the opening of the fair to remove certain equipment displayed at the Israeli stands.” The statement also stated: “The companies in question are still authorized to exhibit at the Fair. Dialogue is ongoing so that the various parties can find a positive outcome to the situation.”
This statement reveals that Israeli companies were not completely banned from the show, but that there were restrictions on their exhibition conditions. French and Israeli authorities still have a chance to resolve the situation, and talks between the parties are expected to continue in the coming days. With this political tension, the Paris Air Show has become a reflection of the geopolitical dynamics in the global defense industry.
