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From the Liveblog of Thursday, November 14, 2024

Macron, French leaders to attend France-Israel soccer game amid tensions

By Lazar Berman

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14 November 2024, 12:02 pm 12 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Protesters clash with French gendarmes during an anti-Israel rally in Paris, on November 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 football match between France and Israel. (Gregoire CAMPIONE / AFP)

As Paris prepares a massive security operation, top French officials say they will attend the France-Israel soccer match this evening.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Michel Barnier, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Sports Minister Gil Averous, and former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande will all be at the game, says France’s embassy.

Israel’s ambassador Joshua Zarka will also be there.

France has deployed 4,000 security personnel and 1,600 private contractors to ensure the violence against Israeli fans in Amsterdam — where they were attacked by gangs of Arabs and Muslims — last week is not repeated.