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French authorities have blocked parts of the Israeli pavilion at the Paris Air Show by covering displayed weapon systems with black barriers after Israeli companies reportedly refused to remove offensive military equipment.
The measure was enforced on the first day of the 55th edition of the air show, which is being held from June 16 to 22 in Le Bourget, a suburb of Paris.
Israeli defense companies are among the participants in the global aerospace and security industry exhibition.
According to organizers, Israeli companies were asked to remove weapons categorized as “offensive” from their displays. The request was reportedly made after the booths had already been set up, and the Israeli firms declined to comply.
In response, organizers surrounded the sections of the Israeli pavilion displaying the contested systems with black panels, effectively blocking them from public view.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the decision followed guidance from French authorities and applied to companies including Elbit Systems, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Uvision. Smaller Israeli booths without physical hardware and one Israeli Defense Ministry booth remained accessible.
Israel's Defense Ministry condemned the action, calling it "a unilateral step carried out in the dead of night." The ministry added that the decision violated longstanding defense exhibition norms and alleged it was influenced by “political and commercial interests."
Boaz Levy, president and CEO of IAI, said: "After our booth was set up and ready, we were asked to remove some of our systems... This morning, we were shocked to find our display blocked by black walls built overnight."
Amir Baram, director general of Israel’s Defense Ministry, criticized the organizers’ action, calling it “scandalous.” A statement from the ministry described the decision as “a unilateral and political move made overnight.”
The ministry also stated: “The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition—weapons that compete with French industries.”
Prior to the event, several French politicians had called for Israeli defense firms to be banned from participating, citing the war in Gaza.
Israeli companies had previously been barred from participating in Eurosatory 2024, another major defense and security exhibition held in France.
Last year, Coges Events, the main organizer of Eurosatory, announced: "By decision of the government authorities, there will be no Israeli defense industry stands at the 2024 Eurosatory Exhibition Hall."
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