Paris: Paris was to deploy some 500 police along the River Seine today, at the start of a controversial beach attraction dedicated to Tel Aviv.
The city authorities' decision to devote one of its hugely popular "Paris plages" (Paris beaches) days to celebrate Tel Aviv has sparked uproar among some left-wing politicians and pro-Palestinian groups.
Protesters have vowed to celebrate a "Gaza beach" nearby and police are bracing for potentially violent clashes.
City authorities have resisted pressure to scrap the event and Prime Minister Manuel Valls has voiced his "full support" for the initiative.
The deputy mayor of Paris, Bruno Julliard, warned that the controversy risked dampening the event, during which authorities pour sand onto the banks of the Seine and set up food and drink stalls.
"In fact, there will be a significant police presence, so it will maybe be a bit less festive than we expected," he added.
France is home to Europe's largest Jewish community and the largest number of Muslims on the continent although its secular laws mean that no precise figures are available.
A banned pro-Palestinian demonstration last July turned into a running battle between rival protesters and the police.
The city authorities' decision to devote one of its hugely popular "Paris plages" (Paris beaches) days to celebrate Tel Aviv has sparked uproar among some left-wing politicians and pro-Palestinian groups.
Protesters have vowed to celebrate a "Gaza beach" nearby and police are bracing for potentially violent clashes.
City authorities have resisted pressure to scrap the event and Prime Minister Manuel Valls has voiced his "full support" for the initiative.
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The deputy mayor of Paris, Bruno Julliard, warned that the controversy risked dampening the event, during which authorities pour sand onto the banks of the Seine and set up food and drink stalls.
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"In fact, there will be a significant police presence, so it will maybe be a bit less festive than we expected," he added.
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France is home to Europe's largest Jewish community and the largest number of Muslims on the continent although its secular laws mean that no precise figures are available.
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A banned pro-Palestinian demonstration last July turned into a running battle between rival protesters and the police.
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