As every year, the world’s aeronautical and defense fair, the Bourget Fair, opened its doors north of Paris, this Monday, June 16. Except that his first day was marked by the controversy, in the context of international conflicts. Several positions of Israeli weapons industrialists exhibited “offensive weapons” saw their access condemned by high black canvases.
According to the organizers of the program, these actions responded to “an investigation that emanates from the competent French authorities upstream of the opening of the show, related to the withdrawal of certain teams presented in the Israeli stands.”
A decision validated by “Israel’s Embassy in Paris”, according to Quai d’Orsay
Like the quai d’Orsay, the frame, “clear”, had taken before the opening of the show, on Sunday night, through the organizers: “the prohibition of exposing offensive weapons at the Bourget Fair.” This decision, therefore, taken by the French government, had been validated by “Israel’s embassy in Paris,” says French diplomacy.
In total, nine Israeli exhibitors are present at the Bourget Fair. Four of them respected the instructions, but the other five made the decision to expose offensive teams despite everything. The stands of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit and Aerononics were, therefore, those of the large black cloth panels, after having exposed missile models.
François Bayrou, who inaugurated the defense fair, confirmed in person that “France wanted to demonstrate that offensive weapons should not be present in this show.” In question, the war libra by Israel in Gaza, where the situation is “morally unacceptable”, and that requires marking “reprobation” and “distance”, according to the head of the French government. “Part of the companies (Israelis) has not followed” this decision, he said.
“It’s like creating an Israeli ghetto”
Except that Israel denies any agreement upstream of the show with the French government. “The withdrawal of offensive weapons systems is broken with the usual practices of defense exhibitions in the world,” criticized the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which denounces a “segregation.” “This scandalous and unprecedented decision feels political and commercial considerations,” he added.
The French decision is “absolutely, categorically anti -Semitic”, for its accused part of General Amir Baram, a senior official of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, who announced the presentation of a legal action in France. “This comes from the Government, from the highest level. This is a decision made to the state level,” added the general.
In LCI, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has pushed the nail, saying “surprised.” “It’s like creating an Israeli ghetto (…). I find it scandalous and must be corrected immediately,” he said.
Even strongly reduced, the presence of Israel, one of the leaders in advanced military capabilities in the Aerospace, was already a source of tensions, while the state continued its offensive in Gaza after Hamas’ murderous attack in October 2023 and launched on a large scale of scale last week against Iran, which took reprisals.
However, on June 10, the Bobigny Judicial Court rejected the request for associations that requested the exclusion of the Israeli business show on behalf of the risk of perpetuation of “international crimes.”
Source: BFM TV
