High Security Measures in Paris Ahead of France-Israel Football Match

paris - Paris, especially around the Stade de France, is under tight security due to the upcoming football match between France and Israel. Authorities fear a repeat of recent events in Amsterdam.

Paris, and specifically the area around the Stade de France, is on high alert ahead of the football match between France and Israel. Approximately 4,000 police officers and gendarmes have been mobilized to secure the evening. The elite unit will also be deployed. The suggestion to relocate the match to a foreign location was dismissed by authorities. "That would be giving in to violence and antisemitism," said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.

Despite the tensions surrounding the high-risk match, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier will attend the game. Their presence aims to send a message of solidarity and brotherhood. Tensions between Jewish and Islamic communities in France have been escalating since the Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli retaliations.

In the first half of 2024, the number of antisemitic incidents has increased by 192% compared to the same period in 2023. The Ministry of the Interior recorded a total of 887 antisemitic incidents in the first six months of this year. The intelligence service analyzed that this rising trend seems to continue, stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Last Sunday, Israeli authorities advised their citizens not to travel to the Stade de France. This advice followed violent incidents surrounding the Europa League football match in Amsterdam, where dozens of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were injured in what the perpetrators described as a 'Jew hunt.' To prevent such events, security measures have been further intensified.

The police force will be heavily present on the transportation network, around the stadium, and inside the stadium. Fans must show their ticket with their name and identification before entering the stadium. The front rows of the Stade de France are off-limits to spectators, to limit any attempts to enter the field. The stands will be sparsely populated; only 20,000 spectators are expected, and this low turnout is primarily due to the security situation.

Fabien Bonnel, leader of the supporter group 'Irresistibles Français,' told Le Parisien that they usually come with 1,500 supporters. This time, they have only reserved 225 tickets. This is a record low, excluding the COVID-19 period. A survey revealed that 15% of supporters justified their choice to boycott the match due to the continued presence of the Israeli army in Gaza. Others purchased tickets precisely because of the context.

"We must not let hate and terror prevail. That is unthinkable to me," said Guillaume, a resident of the Paris region attending his first professional game on Thursday. "I am not going to the game to support the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu, never. I am going to support the Jews. The Jews who are being attacked and blamed for a policy they are not responsible for."

Retailers and residents are concerned about the match. Some residents are not hiding their fear. Signs have been hung in surrounding shops announcing closure on the day of the match: "I will close early, around two or three o'clock. That's normal after everything we saw in Amsterdam," a shopkeeper told the news channel France Info.

Prior to the match, disturbances are also expected in the French capital due to two other events that concern authorities: a pro-Israel gala and a pro-Palestine demonstration scheduled for Wednesday, November 13th. The Zionist association 'Israel is Forever' is organizing a gala on the same day.

Despite requests from the police prefecture to change the date considering the context, the organizers are maintaining the date, as reported by Le Parisien. This year, the event, with tickets priced at 260 euros, was supposed to welcome Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his radical stance on settlements in the West Bank. Ultimately, he will speak via a video link. None of the major Jewish institutions in France are participating in the controversial event.

In a joint press release on Thursday, November 7th, various French associations, unions, and leftist parties called for a ban on the event. "This gala of hate and shame must not take place," declared the united opponents of the event. A pro-Palestinian group even filed a request with the authorities to ban the gala, arguing that there was a serious risk of public order disruption.

The request was rejected the following day, as "the existence of a serious threat was not established." In response to that decision, the far-left political party LFI decided to organize a pro-Palestine demonstration on November 13th. That event is also permitted by the authorities, although the Paris police prefect intends to adjust the demonstration route due to the expected large turnout.

The pro-Palestine demonstration on the eve of the match at the Stade de France poses a challenge for the security services: "The police force cannot be stretched. We cannot mobilize agents non-stop for 48 hours," a senior public safety official stated.