The Paris Air Show is the world’s largest aviation trade fair, and it kicked off today. While I mainly cover the commercial aviation side of this, there’s also a military aspect to the event. Along those lines, the biggest headline coming out of the event today doesn’t involve Riyadh Air’s A350 order or LOT Polish Airlines’ A220 order, but instead, conflict over Israeli displays.
In this post:
France blocks Israeli weapons stands at Paris Air Show
France has today shut down the display stands of the main Israeli defense companies at the Paris Air Show, including for Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI, and Uvision. However, the parties disagree as to how reasonable this decision was, and whether this was communicated in advance.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou claims to have told all exhibitors ahead of the event that offensive weapons would be prohibited from display, and claims that Israel’s embassy in Paris had agreed to this. He claims that Israeli companies violated the rules, and they could resume their exhibits if they comply with this requirement.
Bayrou told reporters that this decision was made based on France’s diplomatic stance, and in particular, its “very great concern about Gaza.” Therefore the government felt it was unacceptable to show attack weapons at the show.
The booths were shut down by large black partitions being placed in front of them. It’s worth noting that smaller Israeli stands, which didn’t have hardware on display, plus the Israeli Ministry of Defense stand, remained open.
One Israeli company, Elbit Systems, responded to the decision to put up a black partition by writing text on it — “OUR PRODUCTS ARE SO GOOD THAT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE THEM.”
Israel calls decision outrageous and unprecedented
Israel’s defense ministry is calling this decision “outrageous and unprecedented,” and states that “the decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations.” The ministry went on to add that “the French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries.”
That’s a key point, because Israel seems to think that France is just trying to avoid competition. The ministry is filing court petitions against the decision, and claims that the black partitions that were placed in front of these displays are reminiscent of “the dark days of when Jews were segmented from European society.”
Bezhalel Machlis, CEO of Elbit Systems, one of the exhibitors, said the following:
“Sixty years after Elbit Systems was founded — on the eve of the Six-Day War and in the shadow of the French arms embargo — we are once again witnessing a blatant and aggressive act by the French Government. This embarrassing attempt to ‘conceal’ Elbit Systems’ groundbreaking technology behind a fictitious cover will prove futile — just as it did 60 years ago.”
“Our world-leading technology continues to prove itself operationally and commercially, with growing demand across Europe and beyond. Elbit Systems remains committed to global leadership, innovation, and partnership. ‘But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.’ (Exodus 1:12)”
Bottom line
An Israeli weapons display at the Paris Air Show is causing a bit of a diplomatic spat. France claims that it warned vendors that they couldn’t display certain weapons, and that the Israeli embassy agreed to that. Israel largely denies this, and claims that France is simply trying to protect its own industries, and avoid competition.
This is now even being litigated, but for the time being, the displays have been blocked off. Talk about some drama…
Thank you Ben, you have enlivened the readers and given those interested in the history of the Middle East, an opportunity to ‘take chunks’ out of the ignorant and antisemites.
Thanks, Tim.
Well past your bedtime, our dear little "British" friend.
This has very little to do with aviation or travel…
Besides this issue is a non starter, Israel agreed to terms when they choose to have booths in the floor, they broke it, now they get punished. Simple. Russia had way worse, they got banned, there is no report on that
I am sorry but nothing about this story has place in this blog, and I do defend regularly regarding your blog and what...
This has very little to do with aviation or travel…
Besides this issue is a non starter, Israel agreed to terms when they choose to have booths in the floor, they broke it, now they get punished. Simple. Russia had way worse, they got banned, there is no report on that
I am sorry but nothing about this story has place in this blog, and I do defend regularly regarding your blog and what you can post here against people who says otherwise. But this seems like a huge stretch
Many French people were equally as antisemitic, just prior to and during WWll, as the most ardent Nazis. Clearly not that much has changed over the decades. The action of preventing the Israeli armaments exhibition at the show is undoubtedly antisemitic.
Some of the comments in this blog display so much ignorance of the facts surrounding the situation as to be completely unbelievable.
The antisemitism is rife herein, it is borne out of a...
Many French people were equally as antisemitic, just prior to and during WWll, as the most ardent Nazis. Clearly not that much has changed over the decades. The action of preventing the Israeli armaments exhibition at the show is undoubtedly antisemitic.
Some of the comments in this blog display so much ignorance of the facts surrounding the situation as to be completely unbelievable.
The antisemitism is rife herein, it is borne out of a complete lack of knowledge of Jewish history, the history of the Middle East, not forgetting an outstanding misunderstanding of the cultural beliefs of the Muslim communities who wish to exterminate all Jews.
The Israelis are fighting for the right to live, to exist, to inhabit their ancestral homeland. A land in which for millennia, non-Jews have persecuted the children of Israel and driven them off. It is the non-Jewish people of this world who have repeatedly committed atrocities and genocide against the children of Israel. Those atrocities, those acts of genocide have been forgotten.
Those who are unable to accept the facts of the plight of the Jews, the unmitigated hatred of the ruling Iranian Muslims, their followers, the proxy terrorists and those who seek to bring about a second holocaust, are contemptible. You are equally culpable for the atrocities committed against the Jewish people as the Muslim perpetrators. How can you sleep at night?
The only reason the French did this was to preemptively shut up all of the snackbars inside their own borders. They have got enough trouble with those beasts already. And after blowing the smithereens out of Ham-Ass and HezboLOL, now the Israelis are giving a lesson to the Pieces of Shi'ite. Good work. If you gotta do, trust a Jew.
Fed up with the Israelis blaming everyone but themselves for the situation they find themselves in.Decided to tell everyone IRAN has nuclear weapons and have to wage war against them.What about all the other counties in the world that have nuclear capability.Will they start war against them with weapons that have been provided by their so called allies.It is ok for them to blow up schools,kill innocent families and children.Netanya is just a bad as...
Fed up with the Israelis blaming everyone but themselves for the situation they find themselves in.Decided to tell everyone IRAN has nuclear weapons and have to wage war against them.What about all the other counties in the world that have nuclear capability.Will they start war against them with weapons that have been provided by their so called allies.It is ok for them to blow up schools,kill innocent families and children.Netanya is just a bad as Hitler and should be tried for war crimes along with Putin and Trump for encouraging them.
Which other countries have count down clocks in major public squares for when they’re going to nuke adversaries?
Iran said that they have nuclear weapons themselves, you moron.
When?
The real demonstration of Israeli weaponry is currently on display in and above Iran.
France only exists because other countries went to war to save it. And yet they are still afraid….
You morron! Get your facts straight! No, I'm not French, just polite.
Nelson, hypocrisy is rife in the content of your post, yes?
Ironic considering that’s the only reason isreal exists The pet project that keeps talking back. They should really learn not to bite the hand that feeds them.
Israel has the capability to kill nearly every Iranian if they choose to do so. But rather than use this capability, they are instead giving advance warning to the Iranian civilian population what areas will be attacked and when. All in an effort to limit civilian causalities.
Contrast this to the current Iranian regime, which if it had to capability to kill everyone in Israel, it would currently be in the steps to launch just...
Israel has the capability to kill nearly every Iranian if they choose to do so. But rather than use this capability, they are instead giving advance warning to the Iranian civilian population what areas will be attacked and when. All in an effort to limit civilian causalities.
Contrast this to the current Iranian regime, which if it had to capability to kill everyone in Israel, it would currently be in the steps to launch just such an attack. And when they perhaps gain this capability in the future, they will use it asap and without hesitation.
“We should all be thanking Putin everyday for not obliterating us all in a nuclear annihilation… he could if he wanted to, what a saint!”
“Israel has the capability to kill nearly every Iranian if they choose to do so”
Via their nuclear bombs no doubt.
“they are instead giving advance warning to the Iranian civilian population what areas will be attacked and when”
If only that were true.
You better check out the reporting about this on CBS and PBS (plus many others I would guess, but I didn't check any further). A one hour warning was given before the TV broadcast building was hit.
Is there a local Fox News affiliate in Israel feeding people this garbage???
1) Were any other weapons manufacturers - including but not limited to French or American - scheduled to have displays? if so then 2) Were they similarly covered up, or were they allowed to display their products? If France is treating everyone equally then this is a non-story. If France barred displays from Israeli companies that it permitted from non-Israeli companies then there is a story.
Israel’s ambassador had agreed that Israeli offensive weapons used in Gaza could not be displayed. 4 of the 9 actually complied when they showed up, 5 ignored the agreement.
The World owes Israel a big thank you for stopping the Iranian's from developing nuclear bombs.
Agreed. But the US needs to provide Israel with an unlimited supply of "bunker busting" bombs to destroy all Iranian nuke abitions once and for all.
Additionally, US also needs to provide Israel $500B dollars every year, in perpetuity.
Agree.
Absolutely. Not enough billions of American taxpayer money is being wasted on Israel.
They could use some more to kill more innocent people faster!n
I think I've seen a very similar story 20+ years ago in Iraq. The world would be better off if the US and Israel stopped interfering everywhere. Almost all of the regimes that were taken down by either of them have resulted in way worse people in power afterwards.
Salmon, please tell the readers which “Regime” Isreal has “taken down”?
The complaint about ‘walls’ coming from Israel is rich, considering the segregation done to Gaza. It’s getting old that every time this country feels slighted (unjustifiably), it’s immediately the same argument of the entire world being anti-Semitic and always out to punish Israel. Just look how they’ve leveled Gaza and the number of innocent children they’ve slaughtered. But yes, keep complaining about not being allowed to show off your WMDs.
Do they really think that they can do whatever they want and if someone criticizes them, it is racism or dark history of genocide??? I am really getting sick of their awfully selfish and completely wrong justifications of their hideous acts these days. I hope not all Jews support the current Israeli government...
The population of Gaza has been increasing since the founding of the Jewish State, so if Israel is committing genocide they are very bad at it.
Actually it’s been dropping since 2023. Considerably. But thanks for playing anyway.
Gee, what happened in 2023 to begin their population downfall? Could it have something to do with their voting Hamas as their government? Reap what you sow.
Well done. Israel needs to get over the holoc@ust and stop playing victim and use that as excuse to bully other countries.
Country aside, you don’t “ get over” the Holocaust. Just as you don’t get over your family being kidnapped, tortured and murdered. You also don’t “ get over “ any other genocide or slavery .. or the current fascist US government.
So Icarus resort to revenge against being kidnapped, which was their revenge for invading their land, which was revenge for ...... and end never ends.
Rather than taking the high road.
Genocide it is. Till either us or them is eradicated.
And calling US government fascist? Take a look at Benny.
Ng, try reading a few history books as your Jewish history knowledge is nonexistent.
Everytime Israel pipes up and says anything in justifications of any "wrong" against them, it always sounds like that bitter uncle that thinks everyone around them owes them.
Arguments are pretty weak when all you have to defend yourself is "you're criticising me because you're a racist", no, you're being criticised because you're an assh*le, don't take the rest of your race down to your level.
FLCL, if you think that Israeli “Arguments are pretty weak”, you should read your post and come away with one fact …. it is you who is the “Assh*le”.
The scenes playing out over Iran are the best advertising for any military/defense/offensive weapons company and the people that use them.
There are more than a few countries that are taking notice and wishing that the west had been as resolute in arming Ukraine in the early days of that war.
There is no reason for any prolonged war today.
Ah, so now Ben’s covering the Israeli arms industry? reporting on a real scandal a "drama"? an affront to decency? Apparently, France denying a booth to a weapons manufacturer warrants urgent attention. Poor Israel, denied the spotlight. Not the pulverised children in Gaza—no, that’s passé. But an air show snub? the Outrage!
We are truly living in a dystopian inversion, where genocide is rebranded as security policy, and moral clarity is smeared as antisemitism. Criticise...
Ah, so now Ben’s covering the Israeli arms industry? reporting on a real scandal a "drama"? an affront to decency? Apparently, France denying a booth to a weapons manufacturer warrants urgent attention. Poor Israel, denied the spotlight. Not the pulverised children in Gaza—no, that’s passé. But an air show snub? the Outrage!
We are truly living in a dystopian inversion, where genocide is rebranded as security policy, and moral clarity is smeared as antisemitism. Criticise the wholesale annihilation of civilians, and you’re cast as an enemy of the civilized world.
The depravity isn’t just in the actions, it’s in the reactions. Where industrialised slaughter barely musters a shrug… Frankly, if outrage is all that’s left when Israel's weapons don’t get showroom lighting, perhaps it’s not the French who should be accused of hiding behind politics—but those who launder war crimes in press releases, blogs and dramatic headlines.
Yes, but on the flip side this blog expressed solidarity to BLM so it's fully signed up to inclusion and all that!!1
I think that the rationale for publishing this post was mostly related to Israel's extreme reactions to the French decision as opposed to the actual news itself, however portraying that reaction in such neutral terms does come across as too sympathetic to the Israeli position.
Here we go... Queue up antisemitism accusations and counter accusations.
Hey Ben, I know it's your blog and you can darn well do what pleases you. I do have to ask you one question - since when did "weapons display" become part of travel and points?
VS, don't read then! Rude. Darn right this is Ben's blog and he can publish what pleases him; when you have your own blog you can do the same. I for one appreciate this kind of articles; I didn't even know the Paris Air Show had a military component.
Beyond ridiculous, especially the minister's attempt at the explanation lacking any internal logic at all.
Any decent company should leave the show right away but I have no high hopes for morals in today's society. Profits come first, until we screw up the world so much we won't be able to make them.
You’re only realizing now profits come first?
Shall the Rwandans demonstrate machetes? The Germans gas canisters?
What’s new… some Israelis in a constant battle do outdo each other as the most repugnant people in the plant.
Jews do what Jews do.
Well no I don’t endorse that message. But Israel as a nation has been emboldened into thinking they are completely outside any basic norms about decency and humanity.
Even the messaging referenced in the article… invoking 1930s anti-semitism about an arms company display…. Decrying “walls” (considering the barriers they put up for Palestinians in their own land… long before this round of ethnic cleansing,
But Israel is above international law and basic human decency. And they know it and flaunt it.
When Trump has had enough, he will cut off the dollar tap and let's see how they do then on their own.
There really is no need for talk like that.
That's a DISGUSTING comment Ocean Man!
Don’t equate all Jews with Israel. It’s like saying all Muslims are terrorists or all Americans support Trump.
When you are surrounded by bloodthirsty enemies and your Country in about 10 miles wide; you do what it takes. We are very complacent in the USA.
Yet Jews can spell!