A gala organized by the “Israel is forever” association, which brings together far-right personalities, must take place the day before the tense France-Israel match. Opposite, a pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration must also be held.
A high-tension match. France-Israel will take place at the Stade de France this Thursday, despite the security risks weighing on the League of Nations meeting. If the sporting stakes are less, the security challenge is enormous, in the middle of the conflict in the Middle East and after violence in Amsterdam on the sidelines of a Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Calls for a boycott were even relayed by deputies from La France insoumise while at the RN, it was even proposed to relocate the match to Corsica.
“It was necessary to maintain. To relocate a France-Israel match was to give in to tensions and panic”, noted this Tuesday on RMC and RMC Story Driss Aït Youssef, doctor of public law, specialist in global security, who believes that Bruno Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior, “was right” to confirm that the meeting would be held at the Stade de France.
A pro-Israel gala and a nearly face-to-face pro-Palestinian demonstration
However, zero risk does not exist. Israel recommends that its supporters not go to the match. And on the sidelines of the meeting, two worrying events. First, an “Israel is forever” gala, organized each year by a private association and planned for a long time, which must be held the day before the match.
The event, presented as “the mobilization of French-speaking Zionists for the power of Israel”, is organized by far-right figures. “There is no innocent civilian population in Gaza,” declared lawyer Nili Kupfer-Naouri, head of the “Israel is forever” organization. Around a hundred people are expected. And on the sidelines of the gala, a gathering organized by Betar and the MEJF (Movement of Jewish Students of France), must take place.
At the same time, a pro-Palestine demonstration is also due to take place. “Organizing a demonstration in provocation to this one, I think it is not very responsible. It is a form of provocation to call for riots on the sidelines of these demonstrations”, judge Driss Aït Youssef.
Today’s guest: Driss Aït Youssef – 12/11
“The problem is the place, the date and the content. If it is a pro-Palestinian demonstration for peace, it is good news and everyone supports it. But if it is to call for hatred of Israel, it makes no political sense, it is dangerous, and it falls under the law”, recalls the doctor of public law.
But police chief Laurent Nuñez, who maintained the organization of the “Israel is forever” gala, indicated on Sunday on BFMTV that he also had no intention of banning the pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The location of the gala remains secret. The pro-Palestine demonstration could take place at the Trocadéro, where a rally against the gala was already held on November 7.
Exceptional security system for few spectators
On the sporting side, the Nations League match does not attract crowds: only 20,000 spectators are expected for this Blues match. To supervise them, an extraordinary security system with 4,000 mobilized police officers, a double sheet at the entrance and the ban on numerous objects that could be used as projectiles but also Palestinian flags.
“In comparison, the Amsterdam match, there were 800 police officers mobilized, there it is 5 times more with 1,600 security agents, it is not comparable”, wants to reassure Driss Aït Youssef, while serious violence between Israeli fans and Dutch fan groups took place. “You need anticipation in this kind of match, I find that 800 police officers are not enough,” he adds.
