France v Israel: Government warns fans not to travel to Paris for Nations League match

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were accused chanting anti-Palestinian slogans and burning a flag in Amsterdam ahead of their Europa League match against Ajax on November 7, 2024. EPA

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Israel has warned supporters not to travel to Paris for Thursday's Uefa Nations League match against France with authorities fearing it could become a flashpoint following violence in Amsterdam surrounding a match involving an Israeli team last week.

Israel’s National Security Council on Sunday claimed pro-Palestinian groups were calling for further attacks on Israelis and Jews in multiple European cities “under the pretence of demonstrations and protests”.

A statement said: “In the past few days, there have been calls among pro-Palestinian groups to harm Israelis and Jews, under the pretence of demonstrations and protests, taking advantage of mass gatherings [sports and cultural events] to maximise the damage and the media coverage.

“In addition, preparations to harm Israelis have been identified in several European cities, including Brussels [Belgium], major cities in the UK, Amsterdam [Netherlands], and Paris.”

Clashes erupt between Israeli football fans and protesters in Amsterdam

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French President Emmanuel Marcon is expected to attend the match at Stade de France and a large police presence is expected both at the stadium and around Paris.

A right-wing Jewish group has nevertheless announced a rally ahead of the Nations League tie.

The Paris fixture will take place a week after clashes in Amsterdam before and after the Europa League match between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch team Ajax last Wednesday.

Verified social media videos showed Maccabi fans chanting anti-Arab songs while Amsterdam police said supporters had burnt a Palestinian flag on the Dam central square, and vandalised a taxi the day before the game.

More footage emerged of Maccabi supporters chanting anti-Arab slogans on their way to the Johan Cruyff Arena on Thursday afternoon.

Following rising tensions in the run-up to the game, groups of men on scooters launched “hit-and-run” attacks on Maccabi supporters across the city.

Footage showed masked youths on scooters and e-bikes chasing down and beating victims – mostly in Maccabi colours – until about 4am.

Describing the France-Israel fixture as high risk, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said 4,000 gendarmes would be deployed around the Stade de France, on public transport and across the French capital.

A protester is escorted into a bus by police during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. EPA

Masked men with flares attack the Gaza protest camp on the University of Amsterdam campus. Getty Images

Students set up a camp and barricades on the campus of the University of Amsterdam. Getty Images

Protesters attend a pro-Palestinian protest at the campus. EPA

The protesters called for the university and others to cut all ties with Israel. EPA

Students during the protest on the university campus. Getty Images

Police officers detain a protester. AFP

Protesters and an encampment are removed. AFP

Students demonstrate at the camp. Getty Images

A protester waits to be taken away by bus. EPA

Such a massive deployment was “highly unusual” for an international match, Nunez told French broadcaster BFMTV, adding that the national police force's elite unit would be tasked with protecting Israel's footballers.

“We will not tolerate any overspill or disturbances to public order,” he said.

Organisations wishing to attack Israel had been identified in a number of European cities, including Paris, the National Security Council warned, advising its nationals not to have recognisable Israeli or Jewish signs on display.

The match comes amid a tide of rising anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim abuse since the start of Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Macron's office on Sunday said the French president would attend the upcoming tie to “send a message of fraternity and solidarity after the intolerable acts of anti-Semitism that followed the match in Amsterdam this week”.

The scenes in Amsterdam last week sparked widespread international condemnation, with US President Joe Biden and European leaders denouncing the “anti-Semitic” violence against Jews.

The Palestinian foreign ministry reported “anti-Arab chanting”.

At least 63 people have been arrested in connection with last week's violence and more detentions are expected.

A woman embraces her son, a supporter of Maccabi Tel Aviv, as he arrives at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport from Amsterdam, where Israeli football fans were attacked following a match against Dutch team Ajax. AP Photo

Zarko Lazetic, manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, arrives at the airport in Lod, Israel, from Amsterdam. Reuters

A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan gestures to his scarf as he arrives from Amsterdam at Ben Gurion International Airport. AFP

Eran Zahavi of Maccabi Tel Aviv arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport. Reuters

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and players arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. AFP

Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters are guarded by police after violence targeting Israeli football fans broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night. Reuters

Israeli football supporters and Dutch youths clash near Amsterdam Central Station. Reuters

Police officers make a security cordon around a bus after the football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Amsterdam. EPA

Demonstrators with Palestinian flags ahead of the Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Anton de Komplein, Amsterdam. EPA

Dutch police detain a man at Dam Square in Amsterdam for allegedly provoking Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters before the Uefa Europa League match. EPA

Royal Military Police vehicles parked outside the departure hall at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Friday morning. EPA

Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands said that 2,000 Israelis were brought home on special flights from Amsterdam following the scenes of violence.

Right-wing Jewish movement Betar on Sunday said it would organise a protest against anti-Semitism ahead of the tie against France.

World Betar, a pro-Israel youth movement, was also planning to host Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on the sidelines of a gala on Wednesday in support of Israel organised by far-right individuals.

Several associations, unions and French leftist parties had denounced the “Israel is forever” event, and in particular Smotrich's planned appearance.

But police chief Nunez – who gave his approval for the gala to be held – said that Smotrich might not attend.

“I understand that in the end, he won't be there,” he said.

Betar is active worldwide and has links to the Israeli right.

Israeli authorities had warned fans against attending a Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball match in the Italian city of Bologna on Friday, which ended without incident.

Following the violence in Amsterdam, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the Mossad spy agency to draw up a plan to prevent unrest at events abroad.