France: After the events in the Netherlands, about 4000 police officers will be deployed in the match against Israel

Minister of Justice and Internal Security of the Netherlands David Van Weil said that “Israel did not warn of risks surrounding the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax”. According to him, he checked all the records, but found no warnings classifying the game as dangerous. “If I found it, I would report it. We are still looking, I want to make sure I didn’t miss anything, but nothing has been found yet,” he added.

Van Wiel added that the reason the rioters were not arrested in the act was because the actions were “hit and run”. According to him, he also saw violence from Maccabi fans, which will also be investigated.

The Amsterdam police announced that in addition to the footage and materials related to the violence demonstrated by local and pro-Palestinian rioters against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans over the weekend, they also received materials showing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans shouting anti-Arab/Palestinian slogans and tearing the Palestinian flag before the league game European against Ajax. In addition, the police received materials supposedly teaching about violence by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans even after the game, and all of these will be included in the independent investigation established in Amsterdam following disturbances last weekend.

To this end, the police will use footage from street cameras, door cameras and will also collect evidence from eyewitnesses.

Also, a report in the Wall Street Journal reveals that pro-Palestinian WhatsApp and Telegram groups called for “hunting Jews” before the riots in the Netherlands. According to the publication, in one of the WhatsApp groups called ‘Community Center’, calls were written for “Hunting the Jews – Part 2” before the events in Amsterdam.

Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands Geert Wilders accused “all those parties that ruled for years and left our borders wide open should be ashamed of themselves. Now they are crying crocodile tears but they are completely responsible for the importation and growth of all this disgusting hatred for the Jews”. So far, five have been arrested in the city of Antwerp in Belgium on suspicion of trying to take an action similar to the one in Amsterdam, according to the local police spokesman.

In the meantime, the center of tension is moving to Paris. There, the president announced Emmanuel Macron to come watch the France-Israel football match on Thursday as part of the League of Nations. Paris police chief Lauren Nunez announced that 4000 police officers and agents in civilian clothes would maintain order around and inside the Stade de France stadium.

Nuñez rejected an appeal by left-wing activists to ban the holding of an Israel Is Forever solidarity event on behalf of right-wing organizations and the National Fund for Israel, scheduled for Wednesday, and among its participants is Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has been accused by those demanding the annulment of being responsible for acts of genocide. Nunez said he would make sure that the venue would not threaten public order but would not ban it.