Faced with risk “very important” that the meeting represents, MP Mathilde Panot (LFI) had requested the cancellation of the match which will take place on Thursday November 14
The deputies of France Insoumise requested this Tuesday, November 12 that the Football match between France and Israel scheduled for Thursday in Saint-Denis “be cancelled”the head of the LFI group Mathilde Panot highlighting a risk of “very strong disorder”reported AFP this Tuesday, November 12.
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“A question of principle”
“We ask that the match which takes place on Thursday between France and Israel be canceled”declared Mathilde Panot 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.
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A security device “very unusual”
In response, the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau assured that this match would be held “a question of principle” Furthermore, the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nunez, announced to BFMTV the establishment of an “extremely reinforced” system. Some 4,000 police officers and gendarmes, “compared to 1200-1300 for French team matches when we are in a sold-out stadium”as well as 1,600 security agents, will be mobilized for this meeting, where is Emmanuel Macron expected. Yet, “there would be a very strong disturbance”affirmed Ms. Panot, therefore judging “important […] that (this) event cannot take place”.
Israeli supporters urged not to go to the Stade de France
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 capital. The Israeli authorities also called on supporters on Sunday not to go to the Stade de France on Thursday.
“Don’t give in to intimidation”
The rebellious elected official also singled out the gala of the “Israel is Forever” association, an event in support of Israel organized by several far-right personalities, organized Wednesday in Paris, to which the extreme Israeli Finance Minister is invited. right Bezazel Smotrich. “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 the LFI leader. 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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Earlier in the day, France’s Europe minister said Israeli footballers and supporters “are welcome”, arguing that France must not “give in to intimidation” and “blackmail”. The match should indeed take place this Thursday, November 14, at 8:45 p.m.
