The right-wing Jewish movement Betar has announced plans to rally against anti-Semitism in Paris ahead of the Nations League football match between France and Israel. The match, scheduled for Thursday at the Stade de France, has been flagged as a high-risk event by authorities.
Yigal Brand, CEO of World Betar, expressed outrage over recent anti-Semitic incidents, particularly last week’s violent clashes in Amsterdam following a game between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. “We are proud Zionists and have nothing to apologise for,” Brand stated, urging supporters to attend the rally and the match.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez revealed that 4,000 gendarmes would be deployed across the city, focusing on the Stade de France, public transport, and other key areas. This heightened security comes in response to the recent unrest in Amsterdam, which left around two dozen people injured.
Betar and the French Jewish student movement MEJF will host Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during the “Israel Is Forever” gala on Wednesday. The event has drawn criticism from several French leftist parties and unions.
Following the Amsterdam violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Mossad to devise strategies to prevent further unrest at international events. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities advised fans to exercise caution, particularly at high-profile matches.
As tensions mount, the rally and upcoming match highlight the broader challenges of addressing anti-Semitism in Europe.
