Ahead of the highly anticipated Nations League football match between France and Israel in Paris, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar spoke with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot to stress the importance of ensuring the safety of Israeli fans. The phone call came in light of recent tensions and violence, including attacks on Israeli supporters in Amsterdam following a match there.
During the call, Saar emphasized the need for “Israeli fans’ security to be assured,” according to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The reminder comes just a week after clashes between Israeli fans and locals in Amsterdam, which resulted in at least five Israelis being injured following Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League game against Ajax.
In a show of solidarity, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned anti-Semitism and pledged that violence would not be tolerated in the country. Speaking to broadcaster BFMTV, Macron affirmed: “We will not give in to anti-Semitism anywhere, and violence – including in the French Republic – will never prevail, nor will intimidation.” Macron is expected to attend the match at the Stade de France, which comes amid heightened security concerns.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau also reiterated that despite the recent incidents in Amsterdam, the football match would proceed as scheduled, without any question.
In preparation for the high-risk event, French authorities have significantly increased security measures. Paris police announced that over 4,000 officers will be deployed around the Stade de France, on public transport routes, and at various locations throughout the city. “It’s an exceptional measure, three to four times greater than what we usually mobilize,” said Paris police chief Laurent Nunez in an interview with RTL radio.
Despite the heavy security, the attendance at the game is expected to be low, with only 20,000 fans anticipated in the 80,000-seat stadium. This low turnout is partly due to the ongoing tensions surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza, which has strained diplomatic relations between President Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The security preparations reflect the gravity of the situation, as authorities work to ensure that the match takes place without incident and that the safety of all attendees, especially Israeli fans, is maintained.
