BDS Morocco Urges Boycott of Marrakech International Airshow Amidst Israeli Presence
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement in Morocco has called for a boycott of the eighth edition of the Marrakech International Airshow, scheduled to take place from October 7 to 10, in protest against the participation of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and other Israeli firms at the event. In an official statement, the movement stressed that the involvement of IAI necessitates its exclusion from the event, along with any other Israeli military companies, asserting that allowing IAI to showcase its military systems and capabilities in Morocco raises significant concerns regarding the nature of military, industrial, and technological cooperation with Israel.
BDS Morocco highlighted that IAI has announced its participation in the airshow, where it plans to display a range of military and aerospace systems, including the LORA precision strike system, OPAL collaborative combat technologies, and the Heron MK II unmanned aerial vehicle, as well as air defense systems and satellite communications technologies. This information aligns with the announcements made by IAI regarding its involvement in the exhibition.
The movement perceives IAI's participation as part of a broader context of military and technological collaboration between Morocco and Israel, prompting calls for a review of the agreements established between the two parties, particularly in the security and military sectors. BDS Morocco referenced a memorandum of understanding signed by the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade with IAI in March 2022, aimed at collaboration in the aviation industry. Additionally, they recalled media reports discussing deals linked to Morocco, including the Barak MX air defense system and a reconnaissance satellite.
Furthermore, the movement urged the organizers of the airshow to implement clear participation criteria to prevent, as they put it, the transformation of exhibitions held in Morocco into venues for marketing or developing partnerships with companies alleged to be involved in violations of international law. They also recalled events during the Paris Airshow in June 2025, when French authorities shut down the booths of several Israeli companies, including IAI, amid a dispute concerning the display of offensive weaponry. At that time, Reuters reported that French authorities closed four major booths belonging to Israeli firms, including IAI, Elbit Systems, Rafael, and UVision.
BDS Morocco argues that IAI's participation in the Marrakech airshow raises important discussions about the presence of Israeli military industrial companies at international exhibitions, especially in light of the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza. As reported by the Jerusalem Post, eight Israeli companies are set to participate in the Marrakech International Airshow, including IAI, Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Xtend, Shilat, UVision, Asio Technologies, and Orbit Technologies. These companies will be involved in the event scheduled to be held from October 7 to 10 at the Royal Armed Forces Air Base in Marrakech.
In its statement, BDS Morocco extended its demands beyond just IAI, calling on the organizers to prohibit the participation of any other Israeli military companies and to exclude firms they claim are involved in the war on Gaza. They appealed to the general public and civil organizations to refrain from attending and to express their dissent through legitimate means.
As reported by alyaoum24.com.
