In a significant security measure, thousands of police officers are set to be deployed in Paris for Thursday’s France-Israel football international. This decision follows recent violence in Amsterdam, where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans faced an attack.
Laurent Nuñez, the police chief of Paris, announced that a total of 4,000 officers will be deployed for patrol duties. Of these, 2,500 will be stationed at the Stade de France, located in the northern suburbs of Paris. At the same time, the remainder will focus on public transportation and various locations throughout the capital.
Approximately 1,600 private security guards are set to be deployed at the stadium alongside an elite anti-terrorist police unit tasked with ensuring the safety of the visiting Israeli team.
“This match carries significant risk due to the highly charged geopolitical environment,” Mr. Nuñez stated.
“Any efforts to disrupt public order will not be tolerated.”
The Uefa Nations League match is facing heightened scrutiny in the wake of the violence that erupted after last Thursday’s encounter between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Netherlands.
The stadium, with a capacity of 80,000, is expected to be only a quarter full. In light of guidance from the Israeli government, attendance from Israeli fans in Paris is anticipated to be limited to around 100 individuals. However, additional supporters from Israel may still make the trip to the match.
In a troubling development, politicians throughout Europe have condemned what they describe as a resurgence of antisemitism following an incident in which Israeli fans were pursued through the streets of Amsterdam.
According to city authorities, Maccabi fans engaged in acts of vandalism, which included tearing down a Palestinian flag, attacking a taxi, and chanting anti-Arab slogans. The city detailed in a comprehensive 12-page report that they were subsequently targeted by “small groups of rioters… on foot, by scooter or car.”
The ongoing violence between Israel and its neighboring countries in the Middle East raises concerns about the possibility of escalation into Europe.
In France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, significant Muslim communities of North African descent coexist alongside comparatively smaller Jewish populations, the latter of whom predominantly express a strong identification with Israel.
In a show of solidarity with European Jews following the events in Amsterdam, President Emmanuel Macron has announced his intention to attend the match scheduled for Thursday at 20:45 local time (19:45 GMT).
Prime Minister Michel Barnier and former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy will join him.
Fans have been informed to anticipate identity verification before the match. Establishments serving food and drink in the vicinity have received directives to shut their doors starting in the afternoon.
The Stade de France witnessed a significant breakdown in law and order during the 2022 UEFA Champions League final, which pitted Liverpool against Real Madrid. Since then, the Rugby World Cup and the Paris Olympics have been successfully held in the region without incident.
The far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party has urged for the cancellation of Thursday’s match, advocating that President Macron should refrain from attending, citing solidarity with Palestinians and Lebanese amid ongoing conflicts with Israel.
“Our head of state should not be honoring a nation that engages in genocide,” stated LFI deputy David Guiraud. Israel has dismissed the allegations of genocide, labeling them as unfounded and significantly misrepresented.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau firmly stated that canceling or relocating the match is not an option. “France stands firm against those who spread hatred,” he said.
In the latest draw for the UEFA competition, France and Israel find themselves grouped, sharing the stage with Italy and Belgium. In the opening match held in Budapest, France secured a decisive victory over Israel with a score of 4-1.
On the eve of the match, pre-match tensions were palpable following the approval of a pro-Israeli “gala” event in Paris. Far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich initially anticipated attending in person, but it was later suggested that his participation would occur via video link.
In the capital, several thousand pro-Palestinian and anti-racist organizations organized protests to align with the event. Protests escalated into violence as demonstrators focused their ire on a McDonald’s located on the Boulevard Montmartre, prompting police to deploy tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Macron has publicly criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of “spreading barbarism” in both Gaza and Lebanon.
French Jews expressed their discontent following remarks made by Macron, who suggested that Netanyahu ought to heed United Nations calls for a ceasefire, citing that “his country was itself created by a decision of the UN.” The statement was perceived in Israel as a slight against the memory of Jews who sacrificed their lives during the nation’s war of independence.
France expressed its outrage following the brief detention of two French officials by Israeli authorities at a holy site in East Jerusalem, which France administers.
Macron’s approach to the Middle East has been characterized by a zigzag pattern, reflecting a tendency to oscillate between solid declarations of support for Israel and its Arab neighbors, often leading to perceptions of inconsistency.
