France to deploy 4,000 police for Nations League tie, with Israeli fans advised not to attend
Israel has advised its fans to refrain from attending the upcoming football match between France and Israel on Thursday, amid concerns that the event could escalate tensions following recent violence in Amsterdam related to an Israeli team.
Despite a significant police presence and the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli officials cautioned fans against attending due to fears of potential targeting.
In contrast, a right-wing Jewish organization has announced plans for a rally prior to the Nations League match.
This event is scheduled to occur one week after violent incidents that followed a game between the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Dutch team Ajax.
The violence has been denounced as "anti-Semitic" by leaders from Israel, the United States, the Netherlands, and Europe. Approximately two dozen individuals sustained injuries, and police reported over 60 arrests.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez characterized the France-Israel match as high risk, stating that 4,000 gendarmes would be deployed around the Stade de France, on public transport, and throughout the city.
Such a large-scale deployment is "highly unusual" for an international fixture, Nunez informed BFMTV, while the elite unit of the national police force will be responsible for the safety of Israel's players.
"We will not tolerate any overflow or disruptions to public order," he emphasized.
In Jerusalem, the National Security Council urged Israeli fans on Sunday to "avoid attending sports events or cultural gatherings involving Israelis, particularly the upcoming match of the Israeli national team in Paris."
The council warned that organizations intending to target Israel had been identified in several European cities, including Paris, and advised nationals to avoid displaying recognizable Israeli or Jewish symbols.
This match occurs against a backdrop of increasing anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim sentiments since the onset of Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Macron's office announced on Sunday that the French president intends to attend the forthcoming match to convey a message of unity and solidarity in response to the unacceptable acts of anti-Semitism that occurred following the match in Amsterdam earlier this week.
The events in Amsterdam last week drew widespread international outrage, with US President Joe Biden and various European leaders condemning the anti-Semitic violence directed at Jewish individuals.
The Palestinian foreign ministry reported instances of "anti-Arab chanting."
In the lead-up to the Europa League match, tensions escalated as groups of men on scooters executed "hit-and-run" assaults on supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv.
This violence followed a series of sporadic incidents involving Maccabi supporters, who were accused of chanting anti-Palestinian slogans, and rival groups of youths.
Amsterdam police reported that some Maccabi supporters had set fire to a Palestinian flag in Dam Square and vandalized a taxi.
Authorities indicated that the attackers were incited by social media calls to target Jewish individuals.
So far, 63 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence that occurred on Thursday, with further arrests anticipated.
The right-wing Jewish organization Betar announced on Sunday its intention to organize a protest against anti-Semitism prior to the match.
World Betar, a pro-Israel youth organization, is also set to host Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a gala on Wednesday, which is being organized by far-right figures in support of Israel.
Numerous associations, unions, and leftist parties in France have condemned the "Israel is Forever" event, particularly criticizing Smotrich's planned participation.
Police Chief Nunez, who authorized the gala's occurrence, indicated that Smotrich may ultimately not be present. "I understand that in the end, he won't be there," he remarked.
Betar operates globally and maintains connections with the Israeli right.
Yigal Brand, the CEO of the group, expressed in a statement on Sunday that the movement was "outraged at what has transpired in Amsterdam."
"We are proud Zionists and have nothing to apologize for," he further stated.
Israeli officials had cautioned fans against attending a Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game in Bologna, Italy, on Friday, which concluded without any incidents.
In response to the violence in Amsterdam, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had instructed the Mossad spy agency to formulate a strategy to avert unrest at international events.
SportsLigue