France – Israel: increasing tensions and an extraordinary system

A week after the anti-Semitic violence in Amsterdam, the police prefect pre ;é;plans a system to secure the Stade de France for the France – Israel match.

It is “a matter of principle” for Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior. The meeting between France and Israel in the League of Nations must take place, and take place at the Stade de France. A security system will be put in place on Thursday, November 14 for the match, marked by significant geopolitical tensions. In addition to the context of war waged in the Middle East by Israel, the meeting will take place just one week after the anti-Semitic violence that occurred in Amsterdam. And after a tifo "Free Palestine" was é deployed at the Parc des Princes.

A pro-Israeli demonstration is also planned in Paris on Wednesday, the day before the match, by an international Jewish movement. “We are outraged by what happened in Amsterdam and by the reaction of governments,” said the president of the umbrella organization of World Betar, Yigal Brand, in a statement. He added: “We are proud Zionists and have nothing to apologize for (…) We will gather in Paris on Wednesday and on Thursday at the soccer match that is also threatened by jihadists.” The far-right Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, will participate in the demonstration.

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4,000 security forces mobilized

“We must at all costs avoid having the same scenes at home,” a security source explains to Parisien. “We will be watched all over the world. It's almost like the Olympics: we can't afford to miss out.” As a measure to limit gatherings, it has been decided that the shops, including restaurants and bars, surrounding the stadium forecourt will be closed from 3:45 p.m., five hours before the match.

To ensure that everything goes well, the Paris police chief has also decided not to skimp on the mobilization of law enforcement. “There will be a double check, a security perimeter around the anti-terrorist stadium. We will have a total of 4,000 people on duty,” he explained on BFMTV on Sunday. to which are added 1,600 security agents from the FFF (French Football Federation), compared to the usual 1,200 to 1,300. Not enough to convince the Israeli authorities who recommend their citizens not to go to the France-Israel match, reports however Le Parisien.

Identity checks, searches and frisking

A significant security measure, for a small number of spectators expected. Only 20,000 people are expected on Thursday evening by the FFF, against a theoretical capacity of 80,000 for the stadium. And for those who come, there will be an identity check, a search and a pat-down, indicated Laurent Nunez. Tickets are strictly nominative. Several things have also been prohibited:

• Bags with back.
• Containers with liquids such as bottles, flasks.
• Palestinian flags – only French and Israeli flags are allowed.

President Emmanuel Macron has also planned to attend the meeting on Thursday evening. A “gesture of solidarity” and fraternity”, according to the entourage of the head of state in Parisien, which occurs in a tense geopolitical context. And a diplomatic incident occurred in Israel during the visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, which resulted in the summoning of the ambassador of the Hebrew state in France.