Tunisia Seeks to Normalize Relations with ’Israel’ to ‘Boost Tourism’
Local Editor
Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa announced that the entry of "Israelis" to Tunisia has been approved in order to ‘boost tourism' in the country, causing an opposition backlash, as the Zionist's public radio station reported on Wednesday.
The decision was made in order to help ‘boost tourism' to Tunisia by making it easier for "Israeli" Tunisian Jews to make the yearly pilgrimage to al-Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Djerba, which is visited during a Jewish holiday in May. At the opening of an economic conference on Jewish pilgrimage, Jomaa stated that, "According to the reviews of tourism professionals, the pilgrimage to Ghriba must be successful for the tourist season to be successful."
The elected National Constituent Assembly [NCA] recently announced plans to interview the Minister of Tourism Amel Karboul and the Minister for Security, Sfar Ridha, on the entrance of "Israeli" tourists to Tunisia.
Angered by the decision, Tunisian opposition accused the government of attempting to "normalize relations with' Israel,'" and demanded a special hearing on the issue.
Upon appointment, the Minister of Tourism has faced sharp criticism because he has previously visited "Israel."
In 1996, Tunisia and "Israel" opened interest sections in each other's country. However, Tunis froze relations in 2000 in protest against "Israel's" repression to the second Palestinian uprising.
Tunisia has maintained close relations with the Palestinians, hosting the Palestinian Liberation Organization [PLO] headquarters from 1982 to 1994.
However, Jomaa pledged on Tuesday to "transparency" on the entry procedures of "Israeli" tourists who were denied entry to Tunisia in March during a stop-over in the port of La Goulette, north of Tunis. He promised they would be documented so that there would be no more confusion.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
- Related News
