Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters wave flags on Dam Square before the Europa League soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Amsterdam, November 7, 2024. Illustrative photo.
PHOTO AFP / Jeroen Jumelet
An international right-wing Jewish movement announced this Sunday that it was planning a rally on Wednesday in Paris to fight against anti-Semitism, in the presence of a far-right Israeli minister, on the eve of a tense match between France and Israel. This gathering, the location of which is still unknown, will come six days after violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam which led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the Mossad to prepare an action plan to avoid such incidents at the occasion of sporting events.
Betar, which has numerous branches around the world and counts radical members in its ranks, plans to come together alongside the French Jewish Student Movement (MEJF). “We are scandalized by what happened in Amsterdam and by the reaction of governments”says the president of the umbrella organization of World Betar, Yigal Brand, quoted in the press release. “We are proud Zionists and have no reason to apologize (…) We will gather on Wednesday in Paris and Thursday at the football match which is also threatened by the jihadists”says Yigal Brand.
This gathering will take place on the same day as the “Israel forever” gala, an event in support of Israel organized by several far-right personalities, which is due to welcome Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to Paris this year. French associations, unions and left-wing parties denounced the organization of this gala, particularly criticizing the announced presence of Bezalel Smotrich.
4000 police and gendarmes mobilized for the match
The prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, had however given his agreement to the holding of this gala. Seized by the Coordination of Appeals for a Just Peace in the Middle East EuroPalestine to obtain an annulment of the decision of the police prefect, the administrative court ruled on Saturday that there was no reason to prohibit it. “Noting that the existence of a distinct and imminent threat has not been established, the judge considers that the conditions are not met for him to be able to order the authority vested with police power to prohibit the gala”writes the administrative court in particular.
Laurent Nuñez clarified on Sunday on BFM TV that this gala brings together “barely a few hundred people” et “held every year”adding that he would ensure that the gathering “is held in a place which does not pose a problem in terms of disturbances to public order”. Laurent Nuñez also affirmed that the Israeli minister would not make the trip. “I understand that ultimately, he will not be there”he said.
The gala is presented by its organizers as “the mobilization of French-speaking Zionist forces in the service of the power and history of Israel”. Israeli authorities on Sunday called on supporters to avoid going to the France-Israel match next Thursday in Paris, following the violence which occurred in Amsterdam on the sidelines of another sporting meeting. A total of 4,000 police and gendarmes will be mobilized on Thursday for this match in “high risk” at the Stade de France, the Paris police chief announced on Sunday.
