Tunis gives up demand to sack officials after Israelis visit Tunisia

The Constitutional Assembly in Tunis gave up demands to vote on sacking tourism minister Amal Karboul and deputy interior minister for security Ridha Sfar for facilitating the entry of Israeli Jews into the country.

Media sources reported that heads of parliamentary blocs had discussed the issue on Friday and decided to withdraw the petition signed to sack both aforementioned officials. They issued a statement including recommendations for the government regarding Tunisia’s relations with Israel.

A petition to sack Karboul and Sfar from their positions was filed by 81 parliamentarians from different parties on 25 April.

Most of the parliamentarians affirmed through their discussions at the assembly meeting on Friday that they refused normalisation with Israel under any circumstances. They reiterated Tunisia’s support for the Palestinian cause.

Some verbal clashes were exchanged during the meeting as some parliamentarians accused each other of using the Palestinian cause and the issue of normalising ties with Israel for political gain.

Groups of Tunisians organised two separate rallies at the time of the meeting. One of them supported Karboul and the other supported the petition calling for her to be sacked and for strict measures to be taken against her.