TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisian lawmakers say they plan to question the country's tourism chief over his decision to permit Jewish religious pilgrims to visit the country using Israeli passports.
While Israelis and Jews long have traveled to Tunisia for an annual pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba, this is the first year that Israelis have been allowed to use their passports rather than a special document issued by Tunisian embassies. Tunisia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Some 85 of the 217 members of the assembly signed the petition summoning Tourism Minister Amel Karboul to explain his actions to the parliament, spokeswoman Karima Souid said Wednesday.
The protesting lawmakers argue that recognizing Israeli passports amounts to recognition of the Jewish state.
