A French court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to force the organizers of the Paris Air Show to tear down a dividing wall surrounding the booths of Israeli defense firms.
The court’s decision upholds the French government’s decision to bar Israeli defense firms from showing certain weapons at the Paris Air Show. Organizers for the show told Israeli firms Sunday evening that they would only be allowed to display defensive weapons.
Israeli firms did not comply with the order and were greeted with a large dividing wall surrounding their booths Monday morning.
Israeli companies and the Israeli Ministry of Defense vowed to sue over the wall, calling the decision anticompetitive and antisemitic.
“This outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations. This comes at a time when Israel is fighting a necessary and just war to eliminate the nuclear and ballistic threat facing the Middle East, Europe and the entire world,” the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Paris Air Show organizers SIAE said they were holding negotiations with the Israeli firms to ensure that the companies could participate later in the show.
“The companies in question are nonetheless authorized to exhibit at the Show. Dialogue is underway so that the various parties can find a favorable outcome to the situation.” SIAE said in a statement.
The Paris Air Show’s decision comes on the heels of Israel’s new war with Iran, which began late last week. Additionally, Israel has faced significant criticism from the French government over its actions in Gaza. The French government, along with other European nations, has called for an immediate ceasefire in the region.
Israel was initially banned from the Paris Air Show last year over its actions in Gaza, but a French court later overturned the order and allowed Israeli companies to participate.
