Monday, March 28, 2011

Tunisian government denounces Israel 'enticement'

Inside the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba

No wonder the Tunisian government is unhappy at Israel's offering a package of financial incentives to 'entice' emigrating Tunisian Jews: the Jews of Djerba are the island's main tourist attraction:

(AP) TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia's government on Monday condemned an effort by Israeli officials to entice Tunisian Jews to emigrate to Israel over concerns about possible economic hardship in the North African country.

The "ill-disposed" call from Israeli officials amounted to meddling in Tunisia's domestic affairs, an effort to sow suspicion, and "an attempt by Israel to tarnish the post-revolutionary image of Tunisia," wrote the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Tunisia's tourism industry has suffered after a popular uprising drove President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee in January. Roughly two-thirds of Tunisia's estimated 1,500 Jews live on the Mediterranean island of Djerba, a popular vacation getaway for sun-minded Europeans. Djerba's historic Ghriba synagogue was the target of a deadly terror attack in 2002 that left 21 people dead, including 14 German tourists, in the only major attack in Tunisia by Islamist extremists.

The ministry statement, relayed by official news agency TAP, came a day after Israel's Cabinet said Prime Benjamin Netanyahu said Tunisian Jews were suffering "real distress" and pledged extra aid to help them immigrate.

The Israeli government, in a statement, cited the economic situation and "the worsening of the Tunisian authorities' and society's attitude toward the Jewish community." It did not elaborate.

Read article in full

Ynet News (AFP)

Tunisia, Israel spar over Jewish emigration (AFP)

2 comments:

  1. There is a time to talk and a time to shut up. Bibi tends to mix them up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. it is important for us Jews to know there is a safe haven for us in Israel.
    A place where you can walk the streets without being spat at or insulted becuase you are Jewish.
    Sultana Latifa: a Jewish refugee from Egypt.

    ReplyDelete