France could ban radical Jewish group
At least 4,500 people attend pro-Israel rally in Paris; Jewish Defence League (LDJ) could be banned after clashing with pro-Palestinian protesters.
France is considering disbanding a radical Jewish group whose members clashed with pro-Palestinian activists during rallies over Israel's offensive in Gaza, a source close to the case told AFP Thursday.
Meanwhile, at least 4,500 pro-Israeli protesters and hundreds of riot police in Paris deployed near the Israeli Embassy for the first major pro-Israel rally since the start of the latest Gaza war.
News of the mooted ban on the Jewish Defence League (LDJ) came just ahead of an evening pro-Israel demonstration outside the Jewish state's embassy, located near the French prime minister's office.
Roger Cukierman, head of the group organizing Thursday's rally, said that Israel has the "right and duty to defend its citizens."
The rally called by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) is in response to weeks of pro-Palestinian protests marred by clashes, arrests and allegations of anti-Semitism in which synagogues were targeted and Israeli flags burnt.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve did not specifically refer to the LDJ but said Thursday that "any group that can pose a problem" or did not abide by the law would be banned.
The CRIF's head Roger Cukierman distanced his group from the LDJ as news of the possible ban emerged, saying: "We share neither their ideology nor their methods."
"It's a tiny organisation comprising a few dozen members from what I know," he said, but expressed surprise that the government was not planning to ban "pro-Palestinian groups which have tried to vandalise eight synagogues in the Paris region."
The main Jewish students' union echoed that view. Its head Sacha Reingewirtz said: "I condemn all forms of extremism... but if the government disbands it (the LDJ), it should also ban all the radical groups behind recent anti-Semitic violence."
The presence of charged-up JDL activists on the sidelines of recent rallies was seen as one of the reasons they turned violent, with clashes outside a synagogue on July 13 leading to a ban on subsequent pro-Palestinian protests.
"We are carrying out an extremely fine analysis of the law," a source close to the case told AFP, confirming a report by French newspaper Liberation of the move to disband the LDJ.
LDJ's actions 'excessive'
Last week Cazeneuve said the group's actions were "excessive" and "should be condemned".
The French LDJ denies breaking laws. It takes inspiration however from the far-right Jewish Defense League, labelled a terrorist organisation by the FBI in 2001.
It also uses the emblem of a banned Israeli far-right party, the Kach, a raised fist inside a black Star of David, set against a yellow background.
The Gaza conflict has stirred up huge passions in France - home to the largest Muslim and Jewish communities in western Europe with around five million Muslims and half a million Jews.
While many protests around the country have gone smoothly, some demonstrations in Paris and the northern suburb town of Sarcelles have descended into chaos and looting in which Jewish businesses were targeted.
French far-left and Muslim leaders have been calling for action against the LDJ, with the French Muslim council branding it "an extremist, racist and violent association."
The government meanwhile has come under attack for banning some demonstrations on the grounds that it went against the principle of freedom of speech and assembly.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen meanwhile blasted the ruling Socialists for failing to stem "riots in the heart of Paris" after having banned demonstrations.
"We must protect the right to demonstrate but from the moment that the state takes a decision to ban a rally they must provide the powers so that the ban is respected," said the head of National Front party.
"We ask policemen to confine troublemakers within a specific perimeter but... neither to arrest them nor to burn or break everything," she said Thursday.
Scores of people have been arrested following the riots and unrest that marked most of the Gaza demonstrations in and around Paris.
AFP and Associated Press contributed to this report.
