• France has closed Israeli weapons booths at the Paris Air Show, citing violations related to offensive weapon displays.
• The decision has been condemned by Israeli officials as "outrageous" and unfairly discriminatory.
• Geopolitical tensions over conflicts in Gaza and Iran have influenced France's actions during the event.
• Five key Israeli defense firms were affected, including Rafael and Elbit.
• The closure has sparked significant media coverage and protests from Israeli representatives.

French authorities shut down five Israeli arms manufacturers' stands at the Paris Air Show, claiming they displayed “offensive weapons” that could potentially be used in Gaza, thus violating previous agreements with Israeli officials. Black partitions were erected to circumvent these booths, further highlighting the tensions surrounding the event, especially in light of recent conflicts in Iran and Gaza, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticized the closure, stating it created an “Israeli ghetto” and urged immediate redress. The Israeli Ministry of Defence echoed this sentiment, labeling the closure as “outrageous and unprecedented,” while accusing the French government of politically motivated action to protect its own defense industries. Herzog's statements reflect a broader frustration about declining relations between the two historically allied nations, which have been strained due to differing views on the conflict in Gaza, according to TRT Global, Le Monde, and CBS News.

During a press conference, French Prime Minister François Bayrou defended the decision, stating that given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it was essential for France to demonstrate a clear stance by excluding offensive weapons from the exhibition. He emphasized that defensive weapons would still be permitted, framing the closure as a necessary reaction to ongoing conflicts, which contributed to heightened sensitivities at the air show, as reported by Africa News, The Jakarta Post, and The Jakarta Post.

The aftermath of this decision saw backlash not only from Israeli representatives but also from political figures within France, including far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who labeled the move as “unacceptable discrimination.” Local politicians from the Seine-Saint-Denis department were also notably absent during the event in protest of the Israeli presence, illustrating the contentious atmosphere surrounding the air show, according to TRT Global, The Jakarta Post, and CBS News.