Protests in Paris Target Pro-Israel Gala Organized by Far-Right Groups
PARIS — Demonstrations erupted in the French capital on Wednesday in opposition to a controversial gala organized 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 protests coincided with the eve of a high-stakes soccer match at France’s national stadium against the Israeli national team, which was overshadowed by tensions stemming from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Authorities in Paris announced that over 4,000 police officers and 1,600 stadium personnel would be deployed for the game.
Smotrich, a vocal advocate of Israeli settlements, was initially expected to attend Wednesday’s gala, dubbed “Israel is Forever,” which was organized by an association of the same name. The group’s stated objective is to “mobilize French-speaking Zionist forces.”
Following days of mounting criticism of the event, Smotrich’s office confirmed on Wednesday that the minister would not be traveling to Paris for the event.
However, the invitation extended to Smotrich drew sharp criticism from local associations, unions, and left-wing political parties, prompting two protests in the French capital. The minister, a hard-line settler leader, has been accused of escalating tensions in the West Bank and faced international condemnation this week after stating his hope that the election of Donald Trump would pave the way for Israeli annexation of the West Bank—a step that would effectively extinguish Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
The French Foreign Ministry condemned Smotrich’s remarks as “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 stated.
Critics also pointed to Nili Kupfer-Naouri, president of the “Israel is Forever” association, who ignited outrage in 2023, following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, when she tweeted that “no civilian in Gaza was innocent.”
On Wednesday night, several hundred protesters marched through central Paris, condemning the event as a “gala of hatred and shame.”
“Imagine if an association were hosting a gala for Hezbollah or Hamas—there’s no way the police would allow that,” said Melkir Saib, a 30-year-old protester. “The situation is simply unfair.”
The march was largely peaceful, but some demonstrators vandalized windows at a McDonald’s along the route.
A separate group, including Jewish leftist organizations opposed to racism and antisemitism, 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 followed days of heightened tensions in Paris and Amsterdam related to the conflicts in the Middle East. A massive “Free Palestine” banner was displayed during a Paris Saint-Germain Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, while violence erupted last week targeting fans of an Israeli soccer club.