France says next week’s soccer match vs. Israel to go on despite Amsterdam attacks

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau says France will not back down in face of antisemitism, after organized mob attacks Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Dutch capital

By AFP and ToI Staff 8 November 2024, 2:02 pm Edit

PARIS, France — A Nations League football match between France and Israel will go ahead as planned next week at the Stade de France in Paris despite the attacks on Israelis in Amsterdam following a game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, the French interior minister said.

“Some are calling for the France-Israel match to be relocated. I do not accept this,” Bruno Retailleau wrote on X. “France is not backing down because that would amount to giving up in the face of threats of violence and antisemitism,” he added, saying he had asked Paris police chief Laurent Nunez to take the necessary security measures for the November 14 match.

France is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States, as well as to the largest Muslim community in the European Union. The threat of antisemitism in the country has loomed large since the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7 last year. In August, a 33-year-old man was charged with committing acts of terror after attacking a synagogue in France.

Amsterdam police said five people were hospitalized and 62 arrested after authorities said antisemitic rioters attacked Israeli supporters following a soccer match in what seemed to be an organized and widespread assault. The police said that they had started a major investigation into multiple violent incidents.

The leaders of Israel and the Netherlands condemned what they also called antisemitic attacks on the fans of soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv before and after the Europa League soccer match between their team and Ajax.

Jerusalem said new Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar was headed to the Dutch capital in light of events.

“In several places in the city, [Maccabi] supporters were attacked. The police had to intervene several times, protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels. Despite the massive police presence in the city, Israeli supporters have been injured,” the Amsterdam police statement said.

“This outburst of violence toward Israeli supporters is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way. There is no excuse for the antisemitic behavior exhibited last night by rioters who actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them.”

Israeli officials said 10 Israelis were injured and a number were out of contact with their families following the hours of overnight violence, apparently perpetrated largely by local Muslims and Arabs, with hundreds more people reportedly besieged in their hotels and fearing they could be attacked again when trying to reach their flights home. By Friday afternoon, all Israelis were accounted for.

Israel said it held Dutch authorities responsible for the safety of its citizens. It initially said it was sending military cargo planes to fly people home from the Dutch capital, but later canceled the plan, saying it had been decided that supporting civil aviation efforts was sufficient.

Israelis were advised to head back home as early as possible, with planes expected to land in Amsterdam in the coming hours.

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