لماذا أغلقت فرنسا أجنحة شركات الأسلحة الإسرائيلية في معرض باريس؟

France today (Monday) closed the pavilions of the four main Israeli companies participating in the Paris Air Show, following the display of bombs and offensive weapons.

French sources reported that the instructions came from the French authorities after the Israeli companies failed to comply with a directive from a French security agency to remove offensive weapons from the exhibition area. As a result, the pavilions of Elbit Systems, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and UVision were closed, while three smaller Israeli pavilions did not display open equipment, along with a pavilion for the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

The organizers of the air show stated in a statement that they are in talks to try to help the various parties reach a positive solution to the situation.

French President Emmanuel Macron previously stated that there is a difference between Israel's right to defend itself, which France supports and can participate in, and strikes on Iran that Paris does not endorse.

In contrast, the Israeli Ministry of Defense refused to remove some weapon systems from the exhibits, indicating that the organizers responded by erecting a black barrier that obscured the Israeli companies' pavilions from others.

The ministry explained that this action was implemented at midnight after Israeli defense officials and the companies finished preparing their exhibits, describing Paris's decision as "shameful and unprecedented, reflecting political and commercial considerations."

The ministry stated: "The French are hiding behind supposed political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition, which are weapons that compete with French industries."