French police said probing threat against Herzog ahead of Olympics opening ceremony

President says he has ‘a lot of trust in the security infrastructure of the French’ to protect Israelis at Paris Games, thanks Macron for action against antisemitism

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets President Isaac Herzog ahead of a reception for heads of state and governments ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Ludovic Marin / AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets President Isaac Herzog ahead of a reception for heads of state and governments ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Ludovic Marin / AFP)

French police are investigating a person who threatened on social media to attack President Isaac Herzog at the Paris Olympics, French newspaper L’Équipe reported Friday.

According to the report, authorities were alerted to the threat via the French government’s Pharos website, on which users can report illegal online content.

The threat was posted to X, formerly Twitter, from the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris, and is being investigated by the anti-terrorism unit of the regional police, the newspaper said.

In a briefing on Friday cited by the Ynet news site, Herzog said he “has a lot of trust in the security infrastructure of the French and of the other states there, and also on the Olympic Committee, which has made an enormous effort.”

Herzog was preparing to participate in Friday’s Olympics opening ceremony after attending a reception with French President Emmanuel Macron, where he thanked his French counterpart for the warm welcome.

“I appreciate your work in the fight against antisemitism and your contribution to ensuring the ability of the excellent Israeli delegation to compete with respect and fairness in the Olympic Games,” Herzog told Macron, according to a statement from the president’s office.

Police clear the streets outside the stadium ahead of the men’s group D match between Israel and Mali at the Parc des Princes during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Concerns for the safety of the Israeli delegation and Israeli tourists have peaked in recent days.

On Thursday, a hacker group calling itself “Zeus” published the personal information of Israeli athletes, in an attack Israeli authorities believe to have been orchestrated by Iran.

The investigation into the threat against Herzog came as a coordinated sabotage campaign brought the Paris train system to a halt.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz blamed Iran for the attack on the transportation system, but did not offer proof.

Travelers check Eurostar trains for London at Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

On Thursday, Katz wrote to his French counterpart, Stephan Sejourne to warn that “Iranian terrorist proxies” would try to sabotage the Games and carry out attacks on Israeli tourists and athletes. Katz thanked France for taking “unprecedented security measures” to protect the Israeli delegation.

On Wednesday, Herzog himself was ordered to stay on his plane for an extra 40 minutes after landing in Paris due to security concerns sparked by a suspicious figure on a nearby rooftop.

The Israeli and Palestinian delegations have been given extra protection, amid tension over the ongoing war in Gaza, which began on October 7, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages.

Antisemitic attacks have soared in France since the attack, and French police have made several arrests on terrorism charges in recent months.

Soldiers patrol outside Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Israel’s 88 athletes’ security detail comprises both French officers and Shin Bet agents.

A French diplomatic source told the Ynet news site that France’s “intelligence and security services are working actively to locate the perpetrators of criminal acts and bring them to justice.”

“At the same time, we are aware of the threats to Israeli athletes,” said the source. “The French authorities, the delegations and the citizens of the state of Israel will receive the highest level of security coverage possible.”

Hostage families’ anger

Meanwhile, the relatives of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’s October 7 reacted angrily to comments President Isaac Herzog made to Israeli athletes on Thursday.

The president told the Israeli delegation in Paris that perhaps “somewhere out there in Gaza, it could be that one of the hostages will see you for a second, and you will give them strength… this year we want to see the flag of Israel in every arena everywhere in the world.”

Einav Zangauker, whose son was kidnapped from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and is still held in Gaza, demanded Herzog take action to bring the hostages home rather than using them in a pep talk.

“Instead of going to warm the hearts of the athletes, I demand you do your job and take care of the return of the hostages via the deal on the table, which the prime minister continues to torpedo,” Zangauker said.

“President Herzog, Matan’s heart does not warm to see the president of the country normalizing the holding of hostages for the benefit of the Olympics, and the same goes for the women who are being sexually abused and all the other captives,” she said.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, attends a protest for the release of Israelis held kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on July 13, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Responding to the criticism, Herzog’s office said Friday that the president’s comments were taken out of context.

“The president was speaking about the mental strength of the athletes and the souls of the hostages who we can’t forget for a moment — even on the world stage of the Olympics,” read a statement from his office.

The president also reiterated the need to reach a deal to bring the hostages home as soon as possible, the statement added.

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