France shuts down Israeli military stands at Paris Air Show

French authorities have closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Air Show, citing the display of bombs and offensive weapons, a decision Israel has strongly criticised as tensions rise between the two nations.

A source close to the situation told Reuters that French officials issued the order after Israeli firms ignored a directive from a French security agency to remove kinetic or offensive weapons from their exhibits.

Three smaller Israeli stands without hardware and an Israeli Ministry of Defence stand remain operational.

Israel’s defence ministry condemned the move, stating it refused to comply with demands to remove certain weapons systems. In response, show organisers erected a black partition overnight, isolating Israeli pavilions from other displays after setups were complete.

“This outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition - weapons that compete with French industries.”

Meshar Sasson, senior vice president at Elbit Systems, slammed the French authorities’ actions.

“If you cannot beat them in technology, just hide them right? That’s what it is because there’s no other explanation,” he said, highlighting Elbit’s recent contract wins across Europe.