French authorities have mobilised 4,000 police officers for Thursday night's Nations League football match between France and Israel in Paris. The move comes amid security concerns following attacks on Israeli fans in Amsterdam last week, and a day after thousands protested against a pro-Israel gala in the capital.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez described the match at the Stade de France as "high risk".
Israel has urged its supporters to stay away from the fixture, which authorities fear could become another flashpoint following the violence in the Netherlands.
The warning follows an incident where men on scooters chased and beat Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters after a Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam on 7 November.
Security forces will be stationed across Paris and around the stadium, which hosted athletics and rugby sevens during this year's Olympics. In an unusual step, police will be positioned inside the venue instead of the usual civilian staff.
An elite police unit will escort the Israeli team to and from the stadium, with an additional 1,600 civilian security personnel on duty.
"The security context has significantly impacted attendance, with only around 13,000 spectators expected at the game in a venue that holds up to 80,000 people," said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Earlier this week, Retailleau told the French national assembly: "The most unbridled anti-Semitism, the most outspoken, is now back".
Solidarity with Israel
In a show of solidarity with Israel, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier will attend the game, as well as former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
A handful of French lawmakers – including from the France Unbowed (LFI) party – have called for the match to be postponed or moved to another French city.
Both suggestions were quickly shut down by the government.
Belgium took a different approach in September, move its national team's match against Israel to Hungary over security concerns.
On the pitch, France are attempting to secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals and they only need a draw to do so.
However, real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé is missing from the France squad as he was for two matches last month.
Protests against 'Israel is Forever' gala
The match comes as thousands protested in central Paris on Wednesday against an "Israel is Forever" gala organised by far-right figures.
Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and set off red flares, with clashes erupting as police fired tear gas. Some protesters damaged a McDonald's restaurant window.
The event – intended to raise funds for the Israeli military – included Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among its invited guests.
However, his office confirmed Wednesday he would not attend.
A separate group, including Jewish leftist organisations opposed to racism and antisemitism, gathered near the Arc de Triomphe to protest against the gala and Smotrich.
Police chief Nunez said the gala posed "no major threat to public order".
