Dror Marom
”The French government has imposed an embargo on the sale of spare parts to civilian and military aircraft to Israel,” Ayit general manager Eli Peretz said today. The company operates commercial inland flights. Peretz made the statement after the French customs delayed a shipment of spare parts for the company’s French-made aircraft.
In the 1960s, France imposed an embargo on Israel and prohibited the sale of airplanes, leading to the Israel Defense Forces to base the air force on US-made aircraft.
Peretz told “Globes” today that “the shipment of aircraft systems was held up at the French customs on French government instructions.”
According to Peretz, “There is no doubt that the French embargo on Israel is being repeated. It is no mistake, but on specific instructions from the government to stop the supply of spare parts to Israel. We’re a small company, but what would have happened if El Al had ultimately purchased airplanes from Airbus, which is controlled by France, instead of the US Boeing? I have decided not to purchase any more airplanes from France. We will base our fleet on US aircraft.”
In response, the French Embassy in Israel said, “We deny all rumors of any sort of embargo imposed on the sale of airplane spare parts to Israel.” Embassy sources added that the report was mistakenly made by the French supplier.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 19 October, 2000