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Protests took place in Paris against an activity organized by far-right figures in support of Israel. The Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, was invited to the event, which aimed to raise funds for the Israeli army.
The protest was held on the eve of a football match to be held at France's national stadium against Israel's national team, which will take place at a time of tension due to the wars in the Middle East. Authorities in Paris announced that over 4,000 police and 1,600 stadium workers will be deployed for the game.
Minister Smotrich, a vocal supporter of Israeli settler settlements, was expected to attend Wednesday's event, titled "Israel is Eternal," which was organized by an association of the same name. The group says its goal is to "mobilize French-speaking Zionist forces."
Following increased criticism in recent days, Minister Smotrich's office confirmed on Wednesday that he would not be attending the Paris event.
But the invitation to Minister Smotrich was sharply criticized by local associations, unions and left-wing parties, prompting two protests in the French capital. The minister, a hardline settler leader, has been accused of fueling tensions in the West Bank. His statement - in which he expressed optimism that the election of US President Donald Trump would pave the way for Israel's annexation of the West Bank, a step that would extinguish dreams of a Palestinian state - was widely condemned by international opinion.
The French Foreign Ministry called Minister Smotrich's statements "contrary to international law" and counterproductive to efforts to reduce regional tensions.
"France reiterates its commitment to the implementation of a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, which is the only possibility for a just and lasting solution. of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" , the ministry said in a statement.
Critics also referred to the president of the association "Israel is Eternal", Nili Kupfer-Nauri, who last year had raised concerns after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, had posted on social networks that "no civilians in Gaza he was not innocent".
On Wednesday evening, several hundred protesters marched through the central streets of Paris, calling the activity an "evening of hatred and shame" .
"Imagine if an association organized an evening for Hezbollah or Hamas - the police would never have allowed something like that," said protester Melkir Saib. "This situation is simply unfair."
The march was largely peaceful, but protesters smashed windows at a McDonald's restaurant across the street.
Supporters of another group, which includes left-wing Jewish organizations opposed to racism and anti-Semitism, gathered near the Arc de Triomphe, from where they chanted slogans against Minister Smotrich.
The French authorities defended the development of the activity. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said he "did not pose a threat to public order".
Wednesday's protest was organized just days after similar protests in Paris and Amsterdam over conflicts in the Middle East.
A large banner reading "Freedom for Palestine" was displayed during the Champions League match between French team Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, while violence erupted in Amsterdam last week against fans of an Israeli soccer club./ VOA
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