The circumstances of the events in Amsterdam remain unclear. But, in France, the political response from the Executive is intended to be unambiguous. In a message posted on The French Minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, urges, for his part, to show “no weakness, no cowardice in the face of anti-Semitism”, denouncing “a hunt for Jews on European soil”.
Referring to a “mass lynching”, the president of Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France), Yonathan Arfi, believes that we are “not in hooliganism but in a political phenomenon”. For the record, anti-Semitic incidents in France jumped by 192% in the first half of 2024, compared to the first half of 2023. And, one year after October 7, the Ministry of the Interior observes an upward trend which “seems be long-term”.
The France-Israel match maintained
In this context, a question is on everyone's lips: should we maintain the League of Nations match which will pit France against Israel on Thursday at the Stade de France? Some, like Manuel Bompard this Friday morning on Cnews and other voices at La France insoumise, are calling for its cancellation. Others instead propose its relocation. Giving up “would amount to abdicating in the face of threats of violence and anti-Semitism”, responds the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who asked the Police Prefect to “take the necessary security measures” to keep him at the Stadium from France. Around 2,500 mobile gendarmes or police officers should be requisitioned for this meeting. And the hotel where the Israeli selection will stay will be under surveillance.
The Minister of the Interior had already stepped up to the plate on Thursday, following the deployment of a huge tifo with the message “Free Palestine” before the PSG-Atlético de Madrid match in the Champions League. “I ask Paris Saint-Germain to explain itself and the clubs to ensure that politics does not damage sport, which must always remain a catalyst for unity,” he wrote.
It must be said and repeated, anti-Semitism has no place in sport
“These events do not constitute isolated incidents but are part of a broader context where sport becomes a field of expression of political and social tensions, in particular those exacerbated by the conflict between Israel and Hamas”, notes, in a column published by Le Point, historian Marc Knobel, former member of the scientific council of the Interministerial Delegation for the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred (Dilcrah). Who insists: “Sport is often misused to serve political or ideological agendas. This drift transforms matches into battlefields. It must be said and repeated, anti-Semitism has no place in sport. “.
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