Some Israeli weapons firms’ stands shuttered at Paris Air Show

The stands of at least two large Israeli defense companies were blocked on Monday at the Paris Air Show participants, in a move, that Israel said that the French government was ordered as a result of an exhibition dispute.

Advice has been placed around business pavilions, including Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which presented examples of military equipment. Rafael and Uvision stands were also closed, According to Reuters. CNBC did not independently verify this report.

Last night, just a day before the opening of the Air Paris show at Le Bourget airport, the organizers of the exhibition acting on behalf of the French government ordered the abolition of offensive weapons systems from the pavilions of the Israeli defense industry – separating with standard practices during the defense exhibitions worldwide, “the Israeli Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said he told Air Show organizers that he had rejected the request and that the conference staff responded by erecting the black walls overnight, blocking the pavilions for the start of the event on Monday.

“This scandalous and unprecedented decision begins again of politics and commercial considerations … The French hide behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition-weapons that compete with French industries,” he said.

CNBC contacted the organizers of Paris Air Show and the French government to comment.

Israeli defense companies have promoted new products that take place at the Paris event – one of the largest in the world of aviation – such as the Elbit infrared missile alert system (HR).

Defense is A major objective in Paris this year In the midst of geopolitical tensions and commitments for higher European security spending, as well as demand relatively moderate by commercial airlines to place new major orders given the existing arrears.

The other defense companies present at the show include Lockheed Martin and Raytheon in the United States, the manufacturer of European missiles MBDA and the corporation of the China aviation industry, while hundreds of military delegations should attend.

“Last night, after our stand was set up and ready for the show, we were asked to withdraw some of our stand systems,” said the president and chief executive officer of IAI, Boaz Levy in a press release.

“We tried to negotiate with them, but it seems that these orders came from the highest levels in Paris,” said Levy, adding that the company had received authorization to participate in the program and respected the requests of the organizers. The IAI team was prevented from entering the stand, he noted.

Levy said he was “shocked” by the alleged decision and discrimination.

This decision comes in the midst of an increase in conflicts between Israel and Iran, with Mortal air strikes between countries continue for a fourth day on Monday. Israel launched a series of strikes on Friday targeting of the locations which, according to him, were linked to Iran nuclear program, killing several senior military officials.

The French government and President Emmanuel Macron have increased their criticism of Israel on his military operation in progress in Gaza in recent monthsWith a joint declaration from the United Kingdom, France and Canada in May, calling for the level of human suffering there “intolerable”.