Latest news with #GeneralSecretariatforDefenseandNationalSecurity
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Israel furious after France orders black partitions at Paris air show over Gaza war, tensions with Iran
France's government ordered black partition walls erected around Israeli defence industry exhibits at the Paris Air Show displaying offensive weapons, because of the war in Gaza and rising tensions in the Mideast. Israel's Defence Ministry demanded an immediate reversal of the decision. A French appeals court had ruled Friday against activist groups who sought to block Israeli companies from participating in the show due to Israel's actions in Gaza. The Paris Air Show, held at Le Bourget north of Paris, is one of the world's largest and most prestigious events for the aerospace and defence industry. The black walls appeared overnight ahead of the show's opening Monday, visually isolating Israeli booths from dozens of other international exhibitors. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said the decision was made to allow Israeli companies to display their aviation technology but no offensive weapons, "given the situation in the region, the extreme tensions ... given France's diplomatic choices, notably concern about Gaza." Bayrou said the Israeli Embassy and companies were informed in advance of the restriction and that some complied, but others didn't. As a result the displays were covered up, "I hope temporarily." The Israeli Defence Ministry said the demand to remove offensive weapons displays came at the last minute. 'The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries,' the ministry said in a statement Monday, calling the action 'ugly and improper.' An array of offensive weapons are on display elsewhere at the Paris Air Show, among the most prominent being French, including its Rafale fighter jets, cruise missiles and other hardware. Bayrou officially opened the air show Monday, visiting several stands, and as he spoke, his voice was partially drowned out by the roar of overhead aircraft. A French official said the decision came from the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security, under the prime minister. The official said Israeli exhibitors were told weeks ago that they couldn't exhibit offensive weaponry, and that the walls were erected as a last resort when five didn't comply. Four others did and are allowed to exhibit. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to discuss the details. The French prime minister drew a distinction between Israel's recent attacks on Iran and its actions in Gaza. "I have never underestimated the risk that Iran and Iran's preparation of nuclear weapons creates for the whole region, for the whole world," Bayrou said. 'The situation in Gaza, it touches, it injures, it repulses a large number of our compatriots, including those who are friends of Israel," he said. Israel's actions in Gaza since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, have drawn protests and concerns in France, especially the blockage of humanitarian aid in recent months. Sylvain Pavillet, a lawyer working with the air show organisers, said the final decision on which countries are allowed to exhibit lies with the French government, not the show itself. Two women angry with the French decision drew an Israeli flag and graffiti on the black partitions around the stand for Israeli company Rafael, accusing the French government of discrimination. Security personnel then covered up the graffiti with black plastic. Shlomo Toaff, head of Rafael's air defence systems division, said he couldn't even enter his company's small display area Monday morning. 'These weapons are used by the Israeli government in a legal way in order to to protect our people and in order to free the hostages," he told the AP. 'We hope that maybe somebody will come to their senses and reopen our show," he added. 'Anybody that is for a free world, free business, freedom of speech should be outraged by this.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel condemns black partition walls around its pavilions at Paris Air Show
PARIS (AP) — French authorities ordered black partition walls erected around some Israeli defense industry exhibits at the Paris Air Show, a move denounced by Israel's Defense Ministry, which demanded an immediate reversal. A French appeals court had ruled Friday against activist groups who sought to block Israeli companies from participating in the show due to the war in Gaza. The Paris Air Show, held at Le Bourget north of Paris, is one of the world's largest and most prestigious events for the aerospace and defense industry. The black walls appeared overnight ahead of the show's opening Monday, visually isolating Israeli booths from dozens of other international exhibitors. The Israeli Defense Ministry said the move followed a last-minute demand from organizers to remove offensive weapons systems from display — a request they rejected. 'The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries,' the ministry said in a statement Monday, calling the action 'ugly and improper.' A French official said the decision came from the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security, under the prime minister. The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the details. The official said Israeli exhibitors were told weeks in advance that they couldn't exhibit certain types of equipment, and that the walls were erected as a last resort when five of them didn't comply. Four others did and are allowed to exhibit. The official did not elaborate on what kind of equipment was not allowed, or why. Prime Minister François Bayrou officially opened the air show Monday, visiting several stands, and was expected to give a news conference later in the day. Sylvain Pavillet, a lawyer working with the air show organizers, said the final decision on which countries are allowed to exhibit lies with the French government, not the show itself. 'We are not a state. We are a commercial company,'' he told the Associated Press. The president and CEO of Israeli company IAI, Boaz Levy, said it has exhibited at the Paris Air Show for decades and had received authorizations to display its equipment. ''Last night, after our booth was set up and ready for the show, we were asked to remove some of our systems from the booth. We tried to negotiate with them, but it seems these orders came from the highest levels in Paris,'' he said in a statement. ''This morning, when we arrived at our booth, we were shocked to find out that we were blocked by black walls built overnight.'' ___ Julia Frankel and Yesica Fisch in Jerusalem contributed to this report. John Leicester And Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Survival manual to be sent to every French household by this summer
The French government is preparing to send some literature to every household this summer. A new tome for the annual 'A book for the holidays' campaign? How delightful. Well, not so wholesome or cheery as it turns out, as the literature in question is a twenty-page survival manual which details the steps to take in the event of an armed conflict or any crisis. Modelled on a similar Norwegian booklet and the Swedish model, 'Om krisen eller kriget kommer' ('In case of crisis or war'), which was distributed to households in 2018, the booklet will detail "all the good gestures to adopt in the event of an imminent threat in France', a government source told Europe 1. These threats include armed conflict, as well as natural disasters such as flooding or a new health epidemic. The publication is reportedly divided into three distinct parts: 'Protecting yourself' - a section intended to raise solidarity when it comes to protecting oneself and neighbours. This first part also lists the survival kit to have at home in the event of a serious crisis. The kit includes at least six litres of bottled water, ten canned goods, batteries and a flashlight in case of a power cut. 'What to do in the event of an alert' - a part detailing the actions one must take in the event of an imminent threat. This chapter lists emergency numbers, radio frequencies, as well as tips like closing all doors in the event of a nuclear accident. 'Get involved' - this final section explains how to sign up to a reserve force, whether military or communal. "This document aims to ensure the resilience of populations in the face of all types of crises, whether natural, technological, cyber, or security-related,' according to a statement from the government. 'This draft document, whose conditions for distribution to the French public have not yet been defined, is currently being approved by the Prime Minister.' The title also has not been defined, and sources say that the two main options are: 'French Resilience" or "All Resilient'. As you can imagine, the announcement of the distribution of a survival manual has sparked criticism online, with many calling it a waste of money, some likening it to Cold War brochures, and others writing: "Stop creating a climate of fear and anxiety." Indeed, while hardly surprising in the wake of President Emmanuel Macron's March 5 speech, in which he declared that the threat of armed conflict with Russia concerned all European countries and called for strengthening the continent's defenses, a survival booklet doesn't exactly smack of reassurance. However, as indicated by the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security (SGDSN), this guide is an integral part of the national resilience strategy, initiated after the Covid-19 pandemic - and therefore predates the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Still, until the pamphlet arrives in letterboxes, let's just hope the advice goes beyond 'close your doors in case of a nuclear blast'. Anxiety-inducing is one thing, but thinking that closed doors are going to prevent... well, anything... or that people would rush to crack open a window in order to take in as much of the nuclear mushroom as possible is insulting. Hell of a sunrise, though. Also, no mention of what to do in case of a zombie apocalypse... Part 4, maybe?
Euronews
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Survival manual to be sent to every French household by this summer
The French government is preparing to send some literature to every household this summer. A new tome for the annual 'A book for the holidays' campaign? How delightful. Well, not so wholesome or cheery as it turns out, as the literature in question is a twenty-page survival manual which details the steps to take in the event of an armed conflict or any crisis. Modelled on a similar Norwegian booklet and the Swedish model, 'Om krisen eller kriget kommer' ('In case of crisis or war'), which was distributed to households in 2018, the booklet will detail "all the good gestures to adopt in the event of an imminent threat in France', a government source told Europe 1. These threats include armed conflict, as well as natural disasters such as flooding or a new health epidemic. The publication is reportedly divided into three distinct parts: 'Protecting yourself' - a section intended to raise solidarity when it comes to protecting oneself and neighbours. This first part also lists the survival kit to have at home in the event of a serious crisis. The kit includes at least six litres of bottled water, ten canned goods, batteries and a flashlight in case of a power cut. 'What to do in the event of an alert' - a part detailing the actions one must take in the event of an imminent threat. This chapter lists emergency numbers, radio frequencies, as well as tips like closing all doors in the event of a nuclear accident. 'Get involved' - this final section explains how to sign up to a reserve force, whether military or communal. "This document aims to ensure the resilience of populations in the face of all types of crises, whether natural, technological, cyber, or security-related,' according to a statement from the government. 'This draft document, whose conditions for distribution to the French public have not yet been defined, is currently being approved by the Prime Minister.' The title also has not been defined, and sources say that the two main options are: 'French Resilience" or "All Resilient'. As you can imagine, the announcement of the distribution of a survival manual has sparked criticism online, with many calling it a waste of money, some likening it to Cold War brochures, and others writing: "Stop creating a climate of fear and anxiety." Indeed, while hardly surprising in the wake of President Emmanuel Macron's March 5 speech, in which he declared that the threat of armed conflict with Russia concerned all European countries and called for strengthening the continent's defenses, a survival booklet doesn't exactly smack of reassurance. However, as indicated by the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security (SGDSN), this guide is an integral part of the national resilience strategy, initiated after the Covid-19 pandemic - and therefore predates the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Still, until the pamphlet arrives in letterboxes, let's just hope the advice goes beyond 'close your doors in case of a nuclear blast'. Anxiety-inducing is one thing, but thinking that closed doors are going to prevent... well, anything... or that people would rush to crack open a window in order to take in as much of the nuclear mushroom as possible is insulting. Hell of a sunrise, though. Also, no mention of what to do in case of a zombie apocalypse... Part 4, maybe? J.K. Rowling appears to have taken an indirect jab at Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in a recent social media post on X, reigniting tensions with the actors. On Tuesday (18 March), when asked on social media, 'What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?' Rowling replied, 'Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible,' along with laughing emojis. Many have interpreted it as a clear dig at Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint. Once closely connected, the actors have distanced themselves from Rowling following a string of controversial statements she has made about transgender rights. Since 2020, the author has repeatedly shared views widely condemned as transphobic, including her assertion that trans women 'are not women' and that she would 'rather go to jail' than use a trans person's preferred pronouns. Labeled a 'TERF' (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) by critics, Rowling has not only embraced the term but has worn it as a badge of honour. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have all spoken out against her views and defended transgender women and men. Last year, Radcliffe told The Atlantic that Rowling's views 'make me really sad', adding: 'Because I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote, and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic.' Watson expressed her support, stating: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are." Meanwhile Rupert Grint said: "I firmly stand with the trans community... Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment." Conclave star Ralph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort in the beloved film franchise, came to the author's defence: "The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it's appalling.' Rowling previously said that she wouldn't forgive the Harry Potter stars who have criticised her views. 'Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces,' she wrote on X. The Harry Potter films are currently being reimagined into a HBO TV series, to which Rowling is an executive producer. Casting is underway. Unknowns are reportedly being scouted to play the roles of the Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Meanwhile, six-time Emmy-winning actor John Lithgow has been confirmed to play the Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, stepping into the role previously played by Richard Harris, Michael Gambon and Jude Law. HBO have defended the author's involvement in the TV seires despite controversy surrounding her name. 'J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.'
