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Days after two banned pro-Gaza protests degenerated into violence, thousands of demonstrators were marching through Paris under the eye of hundreds of riot police, this time in a legal protest.

Wednesday's march tests a government grappling with how best to allow freedom of expression while containing violence — and hate speech against France's Jews.

Jewish leaders say anti-Semitic chants and several attacks on synagogues reflect rising anti-Semitism in Europe.

France has Western Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim populations, and the Middle East conflict often means rocketing tensions in France.

In two banned demonstrations last weekend, in Paris and the northern suburb of Sarcelles, groups of youths pillaged stores and attacked police.

Two synagogues in Paris were attacked July 13.