Israeli aerospace companies are claiming discrimination by the French government and Paris Air Show organizer SIAE after their show floor exhibits were partially blocked from public view on Monday morning by show organizers.
A representative from Elbit Systems, one of the companies whose display was obstructed, spoke to AIN on the condition of anonymity and claimed that the move came as a surprise. The representative said that they were initially contacted around 6 p.m. on Sunday by Paris Air Show organizers.
“It came from the head of the Paris Air Show. It said that following the instruction of the French government, we were supposed to take some items off [display]. They added an annex of which items we were supposed to take off, and unless we did so, they would mask them somehow, block them somehow, cover them. We didn’t know exactly what shape it was going to take.”
The shape it took was a constructed wall covered with black fabric, blocking the forward-facing displays on the floor of the exhibit hall.
“We didn’t comply at the time. When we came in this morning and we were taken aback,” they said.
Agence France-Presse is reporting that the French government gave the order due to the display of “offensive weapons,” including those used in Gaza.
"This outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations," the Israeli defense ministry said in a statement.
“Our question is, why are we being discriminated against when other countries are not being made to choose what to show, what not to show, or else? A representative came this morning and said just a repeat of what we got in the email,” the representative added.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), another company whose display was blocked from view, released a statement on behalf of its CEO, Boaz Levy.
“Following decades of participation in the Paris Air Show and discussions with the French authorities, we received all of the authorizations to participate in the airshow and have done everything they requested from us,” Levy said. “Last night, after our booth was set up and ready for the show, we were asked to remove some of our systems from the booth.
“We tried to negotiate with them, but it seems these orders came from the highest levels in Paris, and this morning, when we arrived at our booth, we were shocked to find out that we were blocked by black walls built overnight, which reminds us of the dark days of when Jews were segmented from European society.”
French armed guards were seen posted outside of the Israeli defense ministry booth on Monday afternoon. The ministry declined to comment to AIN.
French President Emanuel Macron has been previously critical of Israel’s role in their conflict with Gaza. At press time, SIAE officials did not respond to AIN’s inquiry asking for comment.