French authorities have sealed off several Israeli arms stands at the Paris Air Show, considering they displayed "offensive weapons" amid the conflicts in Iran and Gaza. Israel has demanded the decision be reversed immediately.
Black walls were installed on Monday around the stands of five Israeli defence firms – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit and Aeronautics.
Rafael, Elbit and IAI produce guided bombs and missiles, while Uvision and Aeronautics produce drones.
The booths displayed "offensive weapons" that could be used in Gaza – in violation of agreements with Israeli authorities, a French government source told France's AFP news agency.
"From the outset, we provided a clear framework, which was shared with the Israelis, namely a ban on the display of offensive weapons at the Paris Air Show. The Israeli embassy at Paris has agreed to this", said the prime minister's office.
'Outrageous closure'
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.
"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.
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Downsized Israeli participation
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".
Some 75 companies related to weapons production were set to participate at the show which opened on Monday, with military jets, helicopters and drones on display.
Four of the nine Israeli stands remained open, but the Israeli presence is smaller than in the past.
Last week a French court rejected a bid by NGOs to ban all Israeli companies from Le Bourget air shows over concerns about international crimes in Gaza.
Local lawmakers from the Seine-Saint-Denis department hosting the event were absent during French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's visit to the opening of the air show in protest over the Israeli presence.
"Never has the world been so disrupted and destabilised," Bayrou said at the opening, urging nations to tackle challenges "together, not against each other".
More than 2,400 companies from 48 countries are showing off their hardware at the weeklong event at the Le Bourget airfield, north of Paris.
(with newswires)
