France Partitions Israeli Booths at Paris Air Show Amid Gaza War Tensions

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, the French government ordered the erection of black partition walls around Israeli defense exhibits to block the display of offensive weaponry amid the ongoing war in Gaza and heightened Middle East tensions. While a French court dismissed petitions seeking to ban Israeli participation, French authorities required Israeli companies to remove offensive weapons from their displays, leading some exhibitors to comply and others, including Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael, to resist and be visually isolated by the barriers. Israel's Ministry of Defense strongly condemned the move as politically motivated and commercially driven, accusing France of unfairly excluding Israeli offensive weapons that compete with French industries. The Israeli companies expressed shock and frustration over the lack of communication and the last-minute nature of the restrictions, drawing parallels to historical segregation. The controversy highlights strained Franco-Israeli relations amid regional conflict, with Israel continuing to participate in a limited capacity despite the imposed restrictions. The Paris Air Show organizers distanced themselves from the decision, framing it as a government prerogative.