Israeli footballers and supporters "are welcome" at the France v Israel Nations League match on Thursday at the Stade de France in Paris, said French Europe minister on Tuesday.
The UEFA Nations League match between France and Israel at the Stade de France scheduled for Thursday will take place amid fears of potential disturbances following violence against Jewish supporters last week in Amsterdam during the match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
"Israeli footballers and supporters are welcome in Paris," just as Israeli athletes and supporters were welcomed during the Paris Olympics last summer, stated Europe minister Benjamin Haddad in an interview with the French news channel CNews, which was also broadcast on Europe 1 radio.
He further expressed satisfaction that France had "not yielded to intimidation" or "blackmail" by keeping the France-Israel match at the Stade de France, emphasizing the importance of the presence of President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier as a gesture of "friendship."
The Paris police chief will deploy 4,000 police officers and gendarmes to secure the event. And France's elite police unit (Raid) will provide security for the Israeli team.
Paris to deploy 4,000 police for 'high-risk' France-Israel football match
Israeli authorities urged citizens on Sunday to "avoid attending sports matches and cultural events involving Israelis," with a focus on the upcoming match of the Israeli national team in Paris.
Regarding the "explosion of violence and antisemitic hate across Europe," Haddad said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was being "used as a pretext" and "instrumentalised to attack Jews in Europe."
"When Jews are attacked in France, they are attacking France, they are attacking the Republic," he added, calling for sanctions in response to any incidents.
As for measures to combat antisemitism, "I believe we need to think about this at the European level."
This comes as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has announced on Monday the possibility of a new round of European Union sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of exacerbating violence in Palestinian territories.
France eyes new EU sanctions on Israeli settlers as diplomatic tensions mount
(with AFP)
