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Italian MP Fiamma Nirenstein, the chairperson of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians, has issued a strong condemnation of the anti-Semitic slogans chanted last week by a group of Tunisians as they welcomed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on his visit to the country. The group, which has been identified as part of the extremist Salafi movement, shouted "Kill the Jews" and similar slogans while receiving Haniyeh at Tunis Airport. On another occasion, during a rally for Haniyeh on Sunday supporters of the banned ultraconservative Al Tahrir party called for the death of Israel.
Rachid Ghannouchi, the leader of moderate Islamist Ennahda party, condemned the anti-Jewish slogans as unrepresentative of the spirit of Islam or its teachings. He attributed the slogans to a fringe handful of individuals aiming to undermine the image of Ennahda among hundreds who came to welcome Haniyeh. “Ennahda calls on Tunisians of all faiths to stand together and be united for the good of the country,” he said. However, to many in the Jewish community the visit of Haniyeh has brought them new found fear.
Nirenstein declared in a statement: "The International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians expresses its solidarity and support for the local Jewish community, which is understandably alarmed by the rise of extremist voices in Tunisia. We commend the reaction of the Ennhada Party whose leader slammed the anti-Semitic chants and received the head of the local Jewish community, stating that 'Tunisia's Jews are full citizens with equal rights and duties.'"
Nirenstein expressed hope that "the new era in Tunisia fosters an atmosphere of tolerance and goodwill and creates the necessary conditions for a wider reconciliation between the hundreds of thousands of Jews who have fled their native countries in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as for the recognition of Tunisia’s Israeli neighbor.”
