Israel Condemns France's Closure of Four Weapons Stands at Paris Airshow

 

France has shut down four main Israeli company stands at the 55th Paris Airshow, reportedly due to displays of offensive weapons. The move, announced on Monday, has sparked strong criticism from Israel and highlights growing tensions between the two countries.

According to a source familiar with the matter, French authorities ordered the closure after Israeli firms failed to remove offensive or kinetic weapons from their displays, despite instructions from a French security agency. While some smaller Israeli stands without hardware remain open, the main Israeli industry pavilions were effectively shut down, with a black wall erected in the middle of the night to separate Israeli exhibits from others.

see also: (In the UK) Paddy McGuinness Shares Heartbreak Over Children’s Lack of Father’s Day Acknowledgment in Emotional Post

Israel's defense ministry expressed outrage, condemning the decision as "outrageous and unprecedented," accusing France of hiding behind political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from a major international exhibition. They also suggested that the move was motivated by commercial interests to protect French industries.

This development comes amid deteriorating relations between France and Israel in recent months. French President Emmanuel Macron has been increasingly critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, calling for restraint following Israel’s missile strikes on Iran. Macron’s comments reflect broader tensions over how the Middle East conflict is handled and its impact on international diplomacy.

Israel rejected the French order to remove weapons, stating that the decision was politically motivated and damaging to trade and security collaborations. The incident underscores the complex and sometimes strained relationship between the two allies, especially amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.