In a significant legislative move, the Freedoms Committee in the Tunisian Parliament has granted its approval for a draft law that aims to criminalise any form of relations with Israel. This decision follows a backdrop of continuing protests within Tunisia, showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
This development sets the stage for upcoming hearings on the bill, which will be followed by a public session for thorough discussion and the ultimate vote. The proposed draft law consists of seven chapters, with the most severe penalties potentially leading to a life imprisonment sentence, as revealed by Hela Jaballah, the head of the Freedoms Committee.
The scope of the proposed legislation encompasses various aspects of interaction with Israel, including normalisation, communication in trade, commercial and cultural activities, services, and even military or intelligence cooperation. These measures indicate Tunisia’s firm stance on the matter, given its absence of diplomatic ties with Israel.
However, it’s worth noting that Israeli tourists, many of whom have Tunisian origins, traditionally participate in Jewish celebrations at the Ghriba synagogue in Djerba. This year, the region witnessed a tragic incident when an attack near the Djerba synagogue claimed the lives of two security officers and two Jewish visitors, one of French Tunisian nationality and the other an Israeli Tunisian.
The draft law’s approval in Tunisia is particularly notable in the context of recent developments in the Middle East, where countries like Morocco, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates have chosen to normalise their relations with Israel. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has reportedly put its US-backed plans to establish diplomatic ties with Israel on hold, signalling a possible reassessment of foreign policy priorities amid escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
This decision to criminalise relations with Israel reflects Tunisia’s stance on the matter and its solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The subsequent discussions and vote will determine the fate of this proposed legislation, which has sparked significant attention within and beyond Tunisia.
