Tunisian officials protest against allowing Israeli tourists into the country

Members of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) in Tunis have called for sacking two ministers after they breached the Tunisian Constitution by allowing Israeli tourists to enter into the country.

Tunisia does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel. The NCA members say that issuing visas to Israelis is an act of normalisation, and thus in breach of the Tunisian Constitution. In the petition they call for sacking the tourism minister and the acting interior minister for security.

Karima Sowid, an aide to the head of the NCA, said that so far 81 out of 217 members have signed the petition calling to sack Tourism Minister Amal Karboul. In addition, 80 members have signed another petition calling to sack the acting interior minister, Rida Safar.

According to Al-Quds news site, the NCA petition states that: “The decision issued by Minister Safar to allow a group of Israeli citizens onto Tunisian soil and Minister Karboul’s willingness to receive them is in breach of the Tunisian Constitution and a form of normalisation with the Zionist entity, which is defined as an occupation and settlement country.”

Recently, Prime Minister Mahdi Jomaa welcomed Jewish pilgrims who had travelled to Tunis to visit Al-Ghariba Synagogue. Representatives of the NCA did the same, because they only oppose those visitors who hold Israeli nationality.