Thousands attend tense pro-Gaza march in Paris after earlier anti-Semitic outbursts

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold a banner and shout slogans, in Paris, France, Wednesday, July 23, 2014 during a demonstration to protest against the Israeli army's shelling in the Gaza strip. Protesters marched through Paris against the Israel-Gaza war under the watch of hundreds of police in an authorized demonstration days after two banned protests degenerated into urban violence.(AP Photo/Francois Mori ) (The Associated Press)

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator with a Palestinian flag on her cheek shouts slogans, in Paris, France, Wednesday, July 23, 2014 during a demonstration to protest against the Israeli army's shelling in the Gaza strip. Protesters marched through Paris against the Israel-Gaza war under the watch of hundreds of police in an authorized demonstration days after two banned protests degenerated into urban violence.(AP Photo/Francois Mori ) (The Associated Press)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold a picture with a text reading "The Crime that The French President supports", in Paris, France, Wednesday, July 23, 2014 during a demonstration to protest against the Israeli army's shelling in the Gaza strip. Protesters marched through Paris against the Israel-Gaza war, under the watch of hundreds of police in an authorized demonstration days after two banned protests degenerated into urban violence.(AP Photo/Francois Mori ) (The Associated Press)

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.