Tunis – In the wake of numerous recent attacks signaling an increase in anti-Semitic sentiment, Israel has asked the international community for help in pressuring the Tunisian government to step up protection for its Jewish residents.
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Maariv (http://bit.ly/YtO5GF) is reporting that the move comes amid growing animosity toward Israel and an increasing number of anti-Semitic attacks against Tunisia’s 2,000 Jews.
It is alleged that recent attacks have been initiated by religious leaders in Tunisia.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has instructed Israeli embassies in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, and Britain to ask the foreign ministries for assistance.
Israel is also hoping that EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, will personally raise the issue with the Tunisian government.
Assessing the situation, director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism, Gideon Baker, indicated that there has been a substantial increase in the ‘trend of anti-Semitic statements by local clergy and cases of public incitement against the Jews.’
Baker cited a November incident in which crowds in Tunis shouted “Kill the Jews” during a visit by Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
Baker’s report also noted cases involving the burning of a Jewish synagogue; a case in which the Israeli flag was used as a floor rag at the entrance to a bathroom at Carthage airport; and a recent arrest, thwarting a plan by a group of Libyans and Tunisians to kidnap a young Jewish boy for ransom.
Most disturbing, said the report, is a recent proposal aimed at reducing the property rights of Jews on the island of Djerba.
In the last month alone, 80 Jewish graves have been desecrated in Kef and Sousse.
here comes a new aliyah campaign
Israel should stay out of this.
There’s more hatered towaards israel than to jews in general.
By playing a key role in helping tunisian jews, this becomes an israeli issue which gives is a lower chance of success.
In the picture, when will they get this right already, it’s not ‘A rabbi blesses a glass of wine’, it’s ‘A rabbi making a blessing over a glass of wine’!
Tunisia is where the “Arab Spring” began.
The greatest yetzer hara of our generation is the sin of the Meraglim. Very sadly, many Jews are misled and missing the greatest opportunity which we have been given in 2000 years. Hashem has given us a TREMENDOUS gift. We should thank Hashem every minute that we can build our Land, live in it, and visit our mekomos kedoshim. We should thank Hashem that Israel has been a haven for millions of Jews from the Holocaust and from Arab countries. Too many Jews can’t admit that the Satmar view is just plain wrong, and was the cause of many killed in the Holocaust. The anti-Israel philosophies ranging from Satmar to Reform to the secular left are all fueled by the age old YETZER HARA of the Meraglim. This article tells us how Israel is saving the Jews of Tunisia. Why would ANYONE JEW criticize them? It’s because they are poisoned by their anti-Israel leaders. It’s time to thank Hashem for His tremendous gift of giving us Eretz Yisrael and all the miracles He keeps doing for us every day. Let’s stamp out the sin of the Meraglim! Remember, only two Shoftim, Yehoshua and Calev, loved Israel, while the other 10 Shoftim talked lashon hara about Israel. Which camp do YOU belong to???
My complaint against the Israelis here is “tafasta meruba, lo tafasta” – it’s one thing to protest burrning a shul (religious hate), but they’re lumping that together with using the Israeli flag as a floor rag (political expression). By the way, USA ‘culture’ has reached a point where it can be a expression of pride and patriotism to wear underpants of the American flag.