Israel: Bruno Retailleau rejects the idea of ​​relocation despite the violence in Amsterdam

Following the serious violence between supporters which marred the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Thursday evening in Amsterdam, all eyes are focused in France on the organization of the France-Israel match, Thursday November 14 at the Stade de France. But faced with concerns, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is firm and is not considering the idea of ​​relocation.

“Some are calling for the France-Israel match to be relocated. I do not accept it: France is not backing down because that would amount to abdicating in the face of threats of violence and anti-Semitism, the minister wrote on his X account Friday morning. At my request, the police chief Laurent Nunez is making the necessary security arrangements for this match to take place at the Stade de France, as usual. »

Five people were hospitalized and 62 others were arrested in Amsterdam on Thursday evening, police in the Dutch capital announced. The new head of Israeli diplomacy, Gideon Saar, will go there for an “urgent diplomatic visit”, after denouncing “terrible barbaric and anti-Semitic terrorist attacks” which “are a resounding alarm signal for Europe and the whole world.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered two planes to be sent to Amsterdam to rescue Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. The first took off this morning from Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, a spokesperson for the Israeli airport authorities told AFP.