A few thousand people demonstrated on Wednesday in Paris at the call of associations, unions and left-wing political parties to denounce the holding in the evening in the French capital of the “Israel is Forever” gala with the remote participation of a minister far-right Israeli.
The “Israel is Forever” gala is an event in support of Israel organized by several far-right figures. Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, known for his extreme positions, was initially expected in person before his spokesperson mentioned speaking remotely.
The location of this gala was kept secret, but the possible intervention of Bezalel Smotrich, who on Monday promised an annexation in 2025 by Israel of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, sparked a wave of anger among the demonstrators on Wednesday evening. “Smotrich assassin, Macron accomplice”, protesters chanted against the Israeli minister.
The Paris police chief, Laurent Nuñez, interviewed on RTL radio on Wednesday, indicated that he had not banned this gala as it did not appear to present any “significant” risk of disturbance to public order. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly “condemns” the comments of this minister, judging them “contrary to international law” and going “against efforts aimed at a de-escalation of regional tensions”.
Fears of excesses
In addition to the slogans against Bezalel Smotrich, the demonstrators were protesting more generally against the policies pursued by the Israeli government in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. “Liberate Palestine”, “Israel get out of there, Palestine is not yours”, the demonstrators chanted.
For fear of excesses, McDonald's – one of which was targeted by demonstrators who damaged its window – and a Carrefour store had lowered their iron curtains with customers inside.
This gala is also being held on the eve of the Nations League football match between France and Israel scheduled at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, considered “high risk” by the French authorities after the anti-Semitic attacks that occurred last week in the Dutch capital.
For the match, in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron, the French authorities have planned an “extremely reinforced”, “very unusual” system for a match of this type. A total of 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized, and, unusually, in the stadium, as well as on public transport and throughout Paris. Around 1,600 security officers will be at the Stade de France and RAID, the elite unit of the national police, is committed to the security of the Israel team.
The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7, 2023 by the unprecedented attack carried out by Hamas against Israel, killing 1,206 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data, including the hostages. killed or died in captivity. The retaliatory offensive by Israel in Gaza left 43,712 dead, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas government's Ministry of Health, deemed reliable by the UN.
