France is increasing security measures for the Nations League game on Thursday.
As reported by “Spiegelonline”, France is preparing a massive increase in security measures for the Nations League game against Israel on Thursday in Paris in the wake of the riots in connection with the Maccabi Tel Aviv game. The police there want to mobilize 4,000 officers and thus “enormously strengthen” the usual precautions. However, Israel warns citizens against attending the encounter due to security concerns. At the same time, Jewish organizations have announced a gala entitled “Israel is Forever” in the French capital on Wednesday, which Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will also take part in. His visits to the USA reliably trigger protests there.
The Israeli Betar and the Movement of Jewish Students of France (MEJF) are behind the event. According to the organizers, the gala is intended to “mobilize the French-speaking Zionist forces in the service of the power and history of Israel” and is being sharply criticized by human rights organizations, trade unions and left-wing parties, not least because of Smotrich’s participation. The organizers are also planning a protest rally on the sidelines of the football game on Thursday.
Israel’s National Security Council called on “Israelis abroad” on Sunday not to enter the stadium in Paris. In general, citizens of Israel should “completely avoid sporting and cultural events in which Israelis take part.”
At the same time, President Emmanuel Macron wants to watch the match in the stadium on Thursday. According to an official statement, he wants to send “a message of brotherhood and solidarity after the unacceptable anti-Semitic acts that followed the game in Amsterdam this week” (Link).
