France vs Israel: Paris ramps up security as Israel says France 'must' ensure fans' safety at football match

The UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday (Friday in India) is set to take place amid strict security arrangements amid fears of a clash between pro-Palestine groups and Jewish football supporters. The match which is scheduled to start at 8.45 pm local time (1.15 am IST on Friday) will reportedly be attended by only 13,000 fans in a stadium of 80,000 capacity due to a call for a boycott, but there’s danger of a large group of people from both groups gathering outside the stadium in the Saint-Denis locality.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has urged France to do everything possible to ensure the safety of Israeli fans.

“Israeli fans’ security must be assured,” Saar told France’s top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday during a first phone call, according to the Israeli foreign ministry.

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Paris police deploy double security perimeter

After recent clashes between pro-Palestine supporters and Israeli fans in Amsterdam, there’s also danger of violence taking place in different parts of Paris. Already several pro-Palestine protests have taken place in Paris over the last few days. Considering the threat of violence, Paris police have deployed around 4,000 police officers across the city to control security arrangements.

The Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez has said that 2,500 police officers will be inside the Stade de France, while the rest will be spread across the city. The Paris police will also deploy officers at transport stations to ensure fans are not attacked.

A British daily has reported that police officers will also patrol the streets in plain clothes while businesses in Saint-Denis have been asked to close down by 3.45 pm. Overall a double security perimeter has been set up in Pairs.

The France vs Israel will be attended by various VIPs including President Emmanuel Macron who is looking to send a message of solidarity after Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were thrashed in Amsterdam and French police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the best security arrangements in the city.

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Macron on Thursday said that France “will not give in to anti-Semitism”.

“We will not give in to anti-Semitism anywhere, and violence – including in the French Republic – will never prevail, nor will intimidation,” he said while speaking to broadcaster BFMTV.

What happened in Amsterdam?

On 7 November, Israeli football fans were attacked in Amsterdam after Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League match against Ajax Amsterdam. The Maccabi supporters were attacked by multiple small groups of anti-Israel attackers who assaulted the fans and fled on scooters. The Amsterdam police were forced to interfere and provide security for Israelis. Later, around 63 people were detained for the attacks in the city.

The Amsterdam police also revealed later that tension was brewing in the city over the past few days since Israeli supporters landed as they burned a Palestine flag and raised “Fuck you Palestine” slogans in front of the National Monument on Amsterdam’s central Dam square on match day.