PARIS—Israel’s ambassador to France, Aliza Bin-Nun and the French Jewish community have complained to the French government over a decision by the authorities in eastern France who forbid football fans from Israel to come to the center of the city of Strasbourg and fy their country’s flag, citing ‘’the risk of antisemitic incidents.’’
The prohibition came in a four-page order from the head of the Bas-Rhin district office prior to Thursday’s match in a Strasbourg stadium between Maccabi Haifa and the Strasbourg Racing Club.
The President of Crif, the umbrella representative body of French Jewish institutions, Francis Kalifat, denounced “a prefectural decree that worries and disturbs.”
“The mission of the Republic’s security forces is to guarantee individual and collective freedoms, maintain public order and protect people and property. These missions are sometimes difficult and are often carried out in tense conditions,’’ said Kalifat.
“This prefectural decree gives the feeling that instead of protecting all spectators and supporters, the prefect of the Bas Rhin gives way to the intimidation of small groups calling for violence,’’ he added.
Israeli Sports Minister, Miri Regev, called the French authorities’ move ‘unbelievable.’
Earlier this month, an Algerian team’s victory in a major match in France resulted in riots across French cities that ended with hundreds of arrests on violent offenses, including injuries to several police officers. Algerian flags were not banned during that match.