Acting on the orders of the Macron government, the Paris airshow closed down four Israeli exhibitors who, reportedly, would not remove on demand some ‘offensive weapons’ from display.
Stands used by Elbit Systems, IAI, Rafael, and Uvision were targeted. Event organisers were responding to pressure from the French government, reported the Guardian (approvingly). When Israel’s defence ministry refused to cooperate by pulling some weapons systems from displays, exhibition organisers erected a black partition separating the Israeli industry pavilions from other exhibitors.
Although three smaller manufacturers and the Israeli Ministry of Defence were allowed to continue, Boaz Levys—president and chief executive of IAI—said the black partitions were reminiscent of “the dark days of when Jews were segmented from European society.”
By Monday, June 16th, Israel hit back. Sections of the partition had been altered to display a statement from the Israeli representatives at the airshow:
Behind these walls are the best defense systems used by many countries. These systems are protecting the state of Israel these days. The French government, in the name of discrimination, is trying to hide them from you.
Once again, Israel’s paper ‘allies’ are actively working against the Jewish State.
