French President Emmanuel Macron will personally attend the France vs. Israel national football team match held on the outskirts of Paris on the 14th (local time), according to radio RTL.
A close aide to President Macron stated, "This is to convey a message of brotherhood and solidarity in response to the unacceptable acts of anti-Semitism that occurred after the Amsterdam match."
Earlier, on the 7th in Amsterdam, after the Europa League (UEL) match between the Dutch football team Ajax and Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israeli football fans who came to support their team were attacked in various parts of the city. Five people were injured and transported to the hospital as a result.
Israel dispatched a national carrier to bring the supporters back to their home country.
President Macron’s decision to attend the match in person is also interpreted as an effort to prevent incidents like the Amsterdam violence through enhanced security measures.
On the day of the match, Paris police plan to deploy 4,000 security personnel, including at Stade de France on the outskirts of Paris where the match will be held, as well as on public transportation and throughout the city. They also announced increased inspections of spectators and a specific ban on the entry of Palestinian flags.
Israeli authorities have also urged their supporters to avoid attending the football match if possible. The Israeli National Security Council stated in a press release, "Israelis abroad should act cautiously this week," and recommended "not attending sports or cultural events involving the Israeli team, especially the national team match held in Paris."
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