On the eve of a France-Israel match under high tension, a controversial gala is held in Paris. The association “Israel is Forever”, which claims to be Zionist on son site internetis organizing an event in support of Israel this Wednesday, November 13. The gala, authorized by the police headquarters, was denounced by several associations, unions and left-wing political parties.
The CGT, Solidaires, the Human Rights League and France Palestine Solidarité are calling for its ban. In a joint press releaseseven organizations believe that the organization of this event in the French capital constitutes “an insult to international law” at a time when the State of Israel “has been pursuing a total war against the Palestinian people in Gaza and also in the West Bank for more than a year”.
A gala organized by “extremist fundamentalists”
“This is an extremely dangerous organization [Israël is Forever, ndlr]they are extremist fundamentalists who have a racist conception of thingsdenounces Bertrand Heilbronn, honorary president of the France Palestine Solidarité association. In her positions, the president of the association considers that all Palestinians in Gaza can die of hunger, that poses no problem, we are in hate speech and it is scandalous to let such an organization develop in France”.
Nili Kupfer-Naouri, president of the “Israel is Forever” association and Franco-Israeli lawyer, is also singled out in the joint press release from the seven organizations which cite some of her comments: “There is no innocent civilian population in Gaza” or “Let there be nothing left of Gaza and let there be a great hityashvut, a great Jewish resettlement”. Statements which, according to the organizations, are similar to “the apology for war crimes”.
Support for Israelis and not for the war?
More “Israel is demonized today”denounces Albert El Harrar, president of the Jewish community of Créteil. “The organizers have the right to say Israel is Forever, that translates to Israel is eternal, that is support for the Israeli people, that does not mean that it is support for buying weapons, fighting and killing, It doesn't mean that the war will continue in Gaza and Lebanon, we pray for peace every day.”he assures.
“I don't see how this gala could be a problemhe continues. What happened in Amsterdam is more worrying than a gala, Jewish people today feel threatened in Europe.”. Last week in Amsterdam, violence broke out during a Europa League football match and five Israeli fans were hospitalized.
A “pro-Palestine” march on the sidelines of the gala
Faced with the maintenance of the gala by the authorities, a “pro-Palestine” demonstration was organized in parallel in the capital the same day, at the call of several associations, unions and political parties. Attac France, Urgence Palestine, Mouvement de la Paix, CGT, FSU, Solidaires, LFI and even EELV will participate in this march which will leave this Wednesday, November 13 at 6 p.m. from Saint-Lazare station to reach République. “No gala for those who advocate genocide”denounce the organizers in a leaflet.
The next day will then be held the football match between France and Israel, where French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier are expected. The meeting considered at “high-risk” mobilizes a large force of law enforcement, nearly 4,000 police officers and gendarmes, and 1,600 security agents.
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