This was not the first attack on Jews in Djerba
Aterrorist attack on Lag B’omer on the ancient El Ghriba Synagogue of Djerba, Tunisia, that claimed five lives — including two kehillah members — has sent the local Jewish community reeling. But perhaps contrary to expectations, from a Western perspective, few Jews in this Arab country are considering leaving, and most are betting on a Jewish future here.
“It is very difficult to explain what happens here,” says Moshe Ankri from the island of Djerba. “Jews have very strong ties with the local inhabitants. The authorities respect them, and also the police. Obviously there is great pain over what just happened, but they have put down roots in Djerba.”
On May 8, a gunman fired on the celebrations held in observance of the hilula of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai in the El Ghriba synagogue, believed by some to have been founded after the destruction of the First Temple. The attack left five dead, including cousins Aviel and Benjamin Haddad, 30 and 42 respectively; and three Tunisian police officers.
The strong police presence at the event testified to the firm bonds between the Jewish community and Tunisian politicians — including a former minister of tourism, Rene Trabelsi, who was in attendance. While local authorities condemned the attack, President Kais Saied avoided characterizing it as anti-Semitic or terrorist in nature, and instead blamed it on forces that want to “destabilize the government” and especially scare away tourists.
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