This rally will come six days after violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam. “On November 13 in Paris, Betar and MEJF Paris will welcome the Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich” in Paris, Betar declared in a press release.
Betar, which has numerous branches around the world and counts radical members in its ranks, plans to gather alongside the French Jewish Student Movement (MEJF) on the sidelines of the “Israel is Forever” gala, a support event in Israel organized by several far-right figures.
Associations, unions and French left-wing parties denounced the organization of this gala, particularly criticizing the announced presence of Bezalel Smotrich. This event, presented as “the mobilization of French-speaking Zionist forces in the service of the power and history of Israel” will nevertheless be maintained, police prefect Laurent Nuñez confirmed this Sunday.
“We are scandalized by what happened in Amsterdam and by the reaction of governments,” said 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 jihadists,” continued Yigal Brand.
A total of 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized on Thursday for the “high risk” France-Israel match at the Stade de France – a meeting planned as part of the League of Nations – indicated Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez. President Emmanuel Macron will attend the meeting, the Élysée announced this Sunday.
