Protests erupt in Paris over Zionist gala organised by far-right figures

Protests have erupted in Paris against a controversial gala organised by far-right figures in support of Israel.

The event, intended to raise funds for the Israeli military, included Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among its invited guests.

The demonstrations came on Wednesday on the eve of a high-stakes football match at France's national stadium against the Israeli national team, overshadowed by tensions around Israeli carnage in Gaza and Lebanon. Authorities in Paris announced that more than 4,000 police officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for the game.

Smotrich, a vocal advocate of Israeli settlements, had been expected to attend Wednesday's gala, dubbed "Israel is Forever," which was planned by an association of the same name. The group's stated goal is to "mobilise French-speaking Zionist forces."

After days of growing criticism of the event, Smotrich's office confirmed on Wednesday that the minister would not travel to Paris to participate.

But the invitation to Smotrich drew sharp criticism from local associations, unions and left-wing political parties, prompting two protests in the French capital.

The minister, a hardline settler leader, has been accused of inflaming tensions in the West Bank and drew international condemnations this week by saying he hopes the election of Donald Trump will clear the way for Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank.

The French Foreign Ministry called Smotrich's remarks "contrary to international law" and counterproductive to efforts to reduce regional tensions.

"France reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, which is the only prospect for a just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," the ministry said in a statement.

'Gala of hatred'

Critics also pointed at Nili Kupfer-Naouri, president of the "Israel is Forever" association, who sparked outrage in 2023, after the Israeli carnage in Gaza started, when she tweeted that "no civilian in Gaza was innocent."

On Wednesday night, several hundred protesters marched through central Paris, denouncing the event as a "gala of hatred and shame."

The march was largely peaceful, but some demonstrators broke windows at a McDonald's along the route.

A separate group, including Jewish organisations opposed to racism, gathered near the Arc de Triomphe, chanting slogans against the gala and Smotrich.

French authorities defended the event, with Paris police chief Laurent Nunez stating that the gala posed "no major threat to public order."

The protests came days after tensions flared in Paris and Amsterdam related to the Israeli onslaught in the Mideast.

A massive "Free Palestine" banner was displayed during a Paris Saint-Germain Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, while violence broke out in Amsterdam last week after Israeli hooligans incited violence by tearing down Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans.