Israeli president kept on plane in Paris over security concerns

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his delegation have been forced to remain in their aircraft after landing in France because of a suspected security threat.

Herzog arrived in the French capital to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday. The Israeli news portal Walla said the move was taken after a person was spotted on the roof of a nearby building as the plane landed.

“Due to fears of a security incident at Paris airport, President Herzog and his accompanying delegation were not allowed to disembark from the plane,” the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported. “After about 40 minutes, the president and his accompanying delegation were allowed to disembark.”

France will deploy thousands of police officers to secure the opening ceremony during heightened geopolitical tensions, including over Israel’s war on Gaza.