LOC18:39
15:39 GMT
PARIS, July 25 (KUNA) - French authorities have banned a rally planned here Saturday in support of Palestinians and to protest the Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have gone into their third week and killed almost 800 people and wounded thousands.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a televised broadcast on Friday that security guarantees given by organisers were insufficient and there was a risk of violence.
A major, pro-Palestinian rally of over 20,000 people took place Wednesday without incident, but Cazeneuve argued that that particular march had proper stewardship and organisation and had chosen a route that was non-confrontational.
Saturday's banned rally would have passed close to a number of Jewish institutions and synagogues, which were the scene of confrontations and provocations in the past.
But Palestinian organisers claim that the violence near the Jewish places of worship was caused by extremist vigilantes from the Jewish Defence League (JDL), which allegedly attacked and provoked peaceful demonstrators and this sparked clashes with police.
Previously banned rallies have ended in violent clashes in Paris and in the suburbs as protesters ignored the ban, leading to police intervention. (End)
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