The deputies of France Insoumise asked Tuesday that the football match between France and Israel scheduled for Thursday in Saint-Denis “be canceled”, the head of the LFI group Mathilde Panot highlighting a risk of “very strong unrest”.
“We ask that the match which takes place on Thursday between France and Israel be canceled”declared Mathilde Panot, head of the LFI group, during a press conference at the National Assembly.
Already at the beginning of November, LFI deputy Louis Boyard had called for the cancellation of this League of Nations meeting at the Stade de France, to protest against “Israeli government policy” and the war in Gaza. In response, the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau assured that the holding of this match was “a question of principle”. Some 4,000 police officers and gendarmes, as well as 1,600 security agents, will be mobilized for this meeting, where Emmanuel Macron is expected.
Yet, “there would be a very strong disturbance”affirmed Ms. Panot, therefore judging “important (…) that (this) event cannot be held”. This match comes a week after that between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which was followed by violence targeting Israeli supporters in the Dutch city. The Israeli authorities also called on supporters on Sunday not to go to the Stade de France on Thursday.
“Do not send a signal of impunity”
Ms. Panot also praised the association's gala “Israel is Forever”an event in support of Israel organized by several far-right figures, organized Wednesday in Paris, to which far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezazel Smotrich is invited.
“We have been asking for several weeks that (this) gala be banned and that Mr. Smotrich not be welcome in France”in order to “not to send a signal of total impunity on French territory”added Ms. Panot.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated Tuesday that he had not had confirmation of Bezalel Smotrich's coming to Paris this week.
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