French Authorities Seal Israeli Booths at Prestigious Paris Arms Fair

French local authorities shut down Israeli company booths on the eve of the Euronaval arms exhibition in Paris, covering them with wooden boards after a chain of inspections and demands. Industry executives were reportedly not surprised by the move, which was first reported by Globes. The process began with detailed instructions from the show’s management, followed by visits from French inspectors who asked for changes to displays, including platforms and videos.

Several companies altered their setups, and some gave up platforms they had brought in order to comply. On Sunday evening, after another round of French feedback and additional changes, contractors began boarding up the booths at 9:50 p.m. local time, without any phone call or explanation, even though the exhibitors had met the requests they had been given. Some firms had already tried to preempt problems by switching to screen-only presentations, but they were blocked anyway.

The article says France has been presenting such measures over the past two years as opposition to Israel’s policy, but argues the real reason is growing competition from local companies. It also points to the interests of major sponsors, including France’s Keysight and especially Turkey’s Aselsan, saying they benefit from such a move and it likely would not happen if they objected.

Israeli defense firms did not all concede. Aeronautics executives wrote “Our exhibition is in the field” on the boards placed by the French, and the company later mocked the decision in a video, noting that although its display was shut, its products are used by many customers.