France is mulling 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.
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.
The rally called by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) is in response to weeks of protests marred by clashes, arrests and allegations of anti-Semitism in which synagogues were targeted and Israeli flags burnt.
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 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.
Last week Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the group's actions were "excessive" and "should be condemned".
The French LDJ denies breaking French 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 backing.
Passions running high
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 ground 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 perimetre 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
Fri Aug 01 2014
A protester holds a placard reading "LDJ - fascists - dissolution" in Paris. - AFP Photo/Thomas Samson
MAA semak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan 2024 kepada 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) telah menyemak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan bermotor baharu bagi 2024 kepada 765,000 unit daripada anggaran sebelumnya sebanyak 740,000 unit.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Hujan lebat luar biasa punca ban RTB Sungai Samagagah pecah
Berdasarkan bacaan di tiga stesen berdekatan sejak beberapa hari lalu, jumlah hujan dicatatkan antara 109 mm hingga 167.5 mm.
Video muzik Blackpink 'Kill This Love' diharamkan KBS gara-gara...
Salauran television Korea Selatan, KBS telah mengharamkan muzik video 'Kill This Love' kerana dianggap tidak sesuai untuk disiarkan.
Chelsea diharamkan beli pemain untuk dua jendela perpindahan
Chelsea didapati 'berdosa' oleh FIFA kerana melanggar peraturan melibatkan pendaftaran pemain berusia bawah 18 tahun.
Air pasang besar, keadaan pantai di Selangor terkawal
Menurut kenyataan Unit Pengurusan Bencana Negeri Selangor, ban ataupun benteng kepada pesisir pantai kukuh dan berada dalam keadaan baik selain tiada rebakan berskala besar.
Fenomena air pasang: Ban pecah di Kampung Batu 5, Kapar, bukan tumpuan
Kerajaan Selangor mengakui ban yang pecah di Kampung Batu 5, Jalan Kapar, di sini akibat fenomena air pasang besar semalam bukan fokus utama penambahbaikan ban dalam peruntukan segera RM4.3 juta.
JPS cadang tambah baik ban pantai Selangor atasi fenomena air pasang besar
Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar menjelaskan secara umumnya, julat pasang surut adalah berbeza di setiap kawasan pesisir pantai Malaysia iaitu antara 1.8 meter hingga 6.1 meter.
Kerjasama kerajaan negeri Selangor diperlukan atasi masalah banjir
Tan Sri Noh Omar berkata pihaknya maklum terdapat beberapa ban (benteng) yang pecah sehingga air laut melimpah ke kawasan sekitar seterusnya menyebabkan banjir.
Paras air laut melepasi ban punca banjir kilat di Selangor
Paras air laut pasang yang melepasi ban di beberapa kawasan di pesisiran pantai Selangor dilihat punca berlakunya banjir kilat yang melanda beberapa lokasi di negeri ini.
Frost tidak tolak ansur dengan soal kecergasan pemain
Pengarah BAM, Morten Frost Hansen meminta semua pemain kebangsaan menumpukan perhatian sepenuh terhadap soal mempertingkatkan tahap kecergasan masing-masing.
MCMC urged to find mechanism to curb misuse of Facebook
Datuk Shahaniza Shamsuddin said they currently cannot ban Facebook as it also has advantages as a medium of communication.