The international right-wing Jewish movement Betar announced this Sunday that a rally against anti-Semitism would be held in Paris this Wednesday, November 13, on the eve of the high-tension France-Israel football match at the Stade de France.
A Parisian week under high tension. The Betar Jewish movement said this Sunday it was organizing a rally against anti-Semitism in the streets of the capital on the eve of the football match between France and Israel this Thursday.
“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,” explained in the Betar press release, the president of the organization, Yigal Brand.
“On November 13 in Paris, Betar and MEJF Paris will welcome the Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich,” said the press release.
The “Israel Forever” gala
This rally will come six days after violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam. It is also organized on the sidelines of the “Israel is Forever” gala, an event in support of Israel organized by several far-right personalities.
The latter is presented by its organizers as “the mobilization of French-speaking Zionist forces in the service of the power and history of Israel”.
French associations, unions and left-wing parties denounced the organization of this gala, particularly criticizing the announced presence of the Israeli minister. Despite the requests, the Paris police chief, Laurent Nuñez, declared that he would not ban the gala believing “not to have any reason to do so”.
A match under close surveillance
If Betar's press release highlights the presence of its members at the France-Israel Nations League match, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited his fellow citizens not to go to the Stade de France this Thursday for security reasons.
Faced with the risks of excesses and violence surrounding this meeting, the Paris police prefect took drastic measures to strengthen security. Thus, 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized this Thursday as well as 1,600 private security agents.
Furthermore, despite the threats weighing on the meeting, Emmanuel Macron has already announced that he will be present in Saint-Denis.
