Hundreds of riot police in Paris are deployed near the Israeli Embassy for the first major pro-Israel rally since the start of the latest Gaza war.
Several thousand people turn out for the rally, waving signs with slogans like “Gaza hostage of Hamas” and “We protest for peace.”
Demonstrators hold pro-Israel placards during a gathering in front of the Israeli Embassy in Paris, France, Thursday, July 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The demonstration happens amid persistent reports that the Jewish Defense League faces a government ban. JDL militants stepped in to assure security at synagogues during pro-Gaza protests, but were blamed for provoking violence at pro-Palestinian rallies.
France has both the largest Jewish and Muslim populations in Western Europe, and the Gaza war has raised tensions to their highest in years.
Roger Cukierman, head of the group organizing Thursday’s rally, said that Israel has the “right and duty to defend its citizens.”
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said groups “that can pose problems” can be banned.
— AP
Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors.
Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy;
Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.
As a Community member, you’ll also enjoy our DocuNation series of outstanding Israeli documentary films, an ad-free experience of our site and podcasts, commenting privileges, and more.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
