Israeli defenses manufacturer Rafael contemplating legal action against France for blocked exhibit at Paris Air Show.
Since Monday morning, four Israeli companies - Rafael, Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and UVision - found themselves ensconced behind black wooden panels, hiding their offensive gear. French authorities had ruled these weapons as unpermitted under an agreement with the Israeli government for the air show.
Faced with the companies' steadfast refusal to comply, the booths were cordoned off during the night from Sunday to Monday.
Threatening Legal Action Over Financial Losses
In a heated conversation with Euronews, Shlomo Toaff, executive vice president at Rafael, didn't mince words, "We're gonna sue the French government for what they've done to us!"
"We're suing them for causing financial damage, for denying us access to the property we rented. This decision is total bullshit. We're not getting the same treatment as other exhibitors," Toaff fumed.
Toaff also vented to Politico, claiming expected losses "in the mid-double-digit million range."
He explained that Rafael had rented the space a year in advance, submitted booth plans months ago, and cleared French customs about a month before the show. Yet, the company was not provided an opportunity to appeal the decision.
French Crackdown on Israeli Arms Stalls Paris Air Show
Gaza at the Heart of the Clash
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou defended the ban, invoking the dire situation in Gaza as justification.
"France considers the current state of affairs in Gaza to be a humanitarian crisis," Bayrou told reporters on Monday. "France wants to make it clear that offensive weapons should not be visible at this event."
A French official told Politico that Israeli officials were informed weeks prior to the show and that the Israeli Ambassador in Paris had agreed to the restrictions.
Toaff, however, maintained that the rules were unfairly applied. "If a French company can display offensive weapons, then why can't we?" he questioned.
The Israeli Ministry of Defence labeled the move as "scandalous and unprecedented" in a statement on Monday.
Israeli firms had encountered similar restrictions at France's Eurosatory defence show in 2024, only to later participate in a naval show following a court ruling.
The Paris Air Show is scheduled to run until Sunday.
- Shlomo Toaff, from Rafael, expressed his intention to file a lawsuit against the French government, asserting that they have caused financial damage and denied the company access to the property they had rented for the Paris Air Show, suggesting a potential legal battle over this issue.
- In response to the ban on Israeli arms at the Paris Air Show, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou defended the decision, citing the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza as justification for prohibiting offensive weapons from being displayed at the event, indicating a political emphasis on the situation in Gaza during the show.
