Israel–Tunisia relations: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
Tigerdude9 (talk | contribs) |
m Reverted edits by 197.14.182.80 (talk) (HG) (3.4.12) |
||
| (5 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox bilateral relations|Israeli-Tunisian|Israel | Tunisia}} |
{{Infobox bilateral relations|Israeli-Tunisian|Israel | Tunisia}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
'''Israel–Tunisia relations''' refers to [[bilateral relations]] between [[Israel]] and [[Tunisia]]. There are no official diplomatic relations between the two states. |
'''Israel–Tunisia relations''' refers to [[bilateral relations]] between [[Israel]] and [[Tunisia]]. There are no official diplomatic relations between the two states. While Tunisia is [[Sunni]] moderate Western-allied state with a long history of a Jewish community, it is dependent on relations with Algeria and has a president hostile to Israel.<ref name=lost/> |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
The earliest contacts between Israel and Tunisia took place at the [[United Nations]] in New York in 1951–1952, when Tunisian representatives approached the Israeli delegation and Israeli labor leaders. In June 1952, [[Bahi Ladgham]], a close confidant of [[Habib Bourguiba]], met with [[Gideon Rafael]] seeking support for Tunisian independence. Bourguiba stated that he would not seek Israel's elimination and would work to promote peace in the region. |
The earliest contacts between Israel and Tunisia took place at the [[United Nations]] in New York in 1951–1952, when Tunisian representatives approached the Israeli delegation and Israeli labor leaders. In June 1952, [[Bahi Ladgham]], a close confidant of [[Habib Bourguiba]], met with [[Gideon Rafael]] seeking support for Tunisian independence. Bourguiba stated that he would not seek Israel's elimination and would work to promote peace in the region. In 1956, after Tunisia declared independence, he met secretly with [[Ya'akov Tzur]], Israel's ambassador to France. Later that year, Tsur met with the Tunisian finance minister, who sought Israel's assistance in building cooperative agricultural settlements.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/meria/meria00_lam01.html | title=Israel and the Maghreb at the Height of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: 1950s – 1970s | first=Michael M. | last=Laskier | work=[[Middle East Review of International Affairs]] | date=June 2000}}</ref> |
||
[[Operation Wooden Leg]] was an attack on October 1, 1985 by Israel on the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) headquarters in [[Hammam al-Shatt]] in response to the murder of 3 Israeli citizens in Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/true-history-israels-operation-wooden-leg-and-longest-range-f-15-baz-strike-ever-made | title=The True History of Israel's Operation Wooden Leg and the Longest-Range F-15 BAZ Strike Ever Made | first=Dario | last=Leone | work=[[The National Interest]] | date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> The operation resulted in at least 30 deaths.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/02/world/israeli-planes-attack-plo-in-tunis-killing-at-least-30-raid-legitimate-us-says.html | title=ISRAELI PLANES ATTACK P.L.O. IN TUNIS, KILLING AT LEAST 30; RAID 'LEGITIMATE,' U.S. SAYS | first=Frank J. | last=Prial | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=October 2, 1985}}</ref> |
|||
[[Operation Wooden Leg]] was an attack by Israel on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) headquarters in [[Hammam al-Shatt]], Tunisia, 12 miles from the capital of Tunis. It took place on October 1, 1985. Casualties 47-71 dead, around 15 of them were Tunisian civilians who were killed and about 100 wounded.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} |
|||
In 1987, [[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali]] ousted [[Habib Bourguiba]] in a bloodless [[coup]]. While Ben Ali publicly took a strong anti-Israel stance, his administration maintained clandestine contacts with Israel. As a byproduct of the [[Madrid Conference of 1991]], Tunisia and Israel established low-level diplomatic relations culminating in opening an "Interest Section" in each other’s countries in 1996.<ref name=lost>{{Cite web | url=https://besacenter.org/lost-between-recognition-and-rejection-tunisias-relations-with-israel/ | title=Lost Between Recognition and Rejection: Tunisia’s Relations with Israel | first=David | last=Levy | work=[[Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies]] | date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | Tunisia claims it played a major role in secret talks between the PLO and Israel which led to the |
||
| ⚫ | Tunisia claims it played a major role in secret talks between the PLO and Israel which led to the [[Oslo I Accord]], signed in September 1993. Salah Masawi, director general of the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that he saw no obstacle to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. In 1993, [[Yossi Beilin]], then Israel's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Tunisia. Direct telephone links were established in July 1993. After the Tunisia offices of the PLO were closed in June 1994, the first Israeli tourists arrived.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC&q=israel+tunisia+relations&pg=PA1063 |title=The Middle East and North Africa 2003 |publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9781857431322|via=Google Books}}</ref> |
||
In 1994, channels of communication were opened with Israel through the Belgian embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] and [[Tunis]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jta.org/1994/10/03/archive/tunisia-adds-its-name-to-the-list-of-those-initiating-ties-with-israel |title=Tunisia Adds Its Name to the List of Those Initiating Ties with Israel |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-us |access-date=2017-11-14}}</ref> [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tunisia)|Tunisian Foreign Minister]] [[Habib Ben Yahia]] and then-[[Israeli Foreign Minister]] [[Ehud Barak]] met in [[Barcelona]] in 1995 to expand official relations between the two countries after relations had been confined to "two communications channels" in the [[Diplomatic missions of Belgium|Belgian embassies]] in each of Tunis and Tel Aviv.<ref>Europe and Tunisia: Democratization via Association, Brieg Powel</ref> On Jan. 22, 1996, then [[US Secretary of State]] [[Warren Christopher]] announced "that for the first time Israel and Tunisia will establish official facilities called "[[De facto embassy|interests sections]]" in each other's countries. By April 15 of this year, each nation will host representatives of the other government so as to facilitate political consultations, travel, and trade between their two countries". According to plan, Israel opened an interest office in Tunisia in April and six weeks later, in May, Tunisian diplomat [[Khemaies Jhinaoui]] went to Israel to open his country's interest office in Tel Aviv.<ref>Family in the Middle East: Ideational Change in Egypt, Iran, and Tunisia</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Relations worsened in the early 2000s after the start of the [[Second Intifada]]. On October 22, 2000, [[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali|President Ben Ali]] announced that he would break all diplomatic ties with Israel following the "violence in the Palestinian-controlled territories".<ref>Arab Mass Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Television in Arab Politics</ref> Israel expressed its disappointment at the Tunisian decision to sever relations and close the interest offices in Tel Aviv and Tunis. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said: "It appears that Tunisia has elected to renounce its potential role as a bridge for dialogue between Israel and its neighbours, thereby harming the critical effort to promote regional peace."<ref>Tunisia: Stability and Reform in the Modern Maghreb</ref> |
|||
In 1994, channels of communication were opened with Israel through the Belgian embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] and [[Tunis]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jta.org/1994/10/03/archive/tunisia-adds-its-name-to-the-list-of-those-initiating-ties-with-israel |title=Tunisia Adds Its Name to the List of Those Initiating Ties with Israel |website=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] | date=October 3, 1994}}</ref> [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tunisia)|Tunisian Foreign Minister]] [[Habib Ben Yahia]] and then-[[Israeli Foreign Minister]] [[Ehud Barak]] met in [[Barcelona]] in 1995 to expand official relations between the two countries. |
|||
| ⚫ | In June 2021, both Israel and Tunisia were among 30 countries which participated in the ''Sea Breeze 2021'', multinational naval maneuvers in the [[Black Sea]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/sea-breeze-ukraine-us-black-sea-drills-raise-tensions-with-russia/a-58081985 |title=Sea Breeze: Ukraine, US Black Sea drills raise tensions with Russia | |
||
In 2000, after the [[Second Intifada]], relations worsened and President [[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali]] broke off relations with Israel.<ref name=lost/> |
|||
In October 2023, the Tunisian parliament proposed a bill criminalizing ties with Israel. Hela Jeballah, head of the Tunisian Freedoms Committee stated: "normalization, communication in trade, commercial and cultural activities, services, military or intelligence with Israel will be punished.", and that "The draft law includes seven chapters, in which penalties reach a life imprisonment sentence".<ref>https://tvpworld.com/73639100/tunesia-parliament-committee-drafts-law-punishing-normalization-with-israel</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | In June 2021, both Israel and Tunisia were among 30 countries which participated in the ''Sea Breeze 2021'', multinational naval maneuvers in the [[Black Sea]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/sea-breeze-ukraine-us-black-sea-drills-raise-tensions-with-russia/a-58081985 |title=Sea Breeze: Ukraine, US Black Sea drills raise tensions with Russia | first=Roman | last=Goncharenko | work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=29 June 2021}}</ref> |
||
In October 2023, the Tunisian parliament proposed a bill criminalizing ties with Israel. However, on November 2, President [[Kais Saied]] interrupted a voting session on the bill to instruct members to dismiss the bill.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.newarab.com/analysis/anti-israel-law-dividing-saied-and-tunisias-parliament | title=The anti-Israel law dividing Saied and Tunisia's parliament | first=Basma | last=El Atti | work=[[The New Arab]] | date=28 November 2023}}</ref> |
|||
==Sporting events== |
==Sporting events== |
||
In |
In 2013, [[Malek Jaziri]] withdrew from a Challenger tournament in Tashkent after being scheduled to play against Israeli [[Amir Weintraub]]. As a result, the [[International Tennis Federation]] suspended Tunisia from [[Davis Cup]] play. In 2016, the match between Jaziri and Israeli [[Dudi Sela]] led to boycotts, although it did occur.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/political-boycott-over-tunisia-s-malek-jaziri-plays-israel-s-dudi-sela | title=Political boycott over, Tunisia's Malek Jaziri plays Israel's Dudi Sela | first=Kamakshi | last=Tandon| work=[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis]] | date=September 21, 2016}}</ref> |
||
In 2020, Tunisian President [[Kais Saied]] called for an investigation following the participation of Israeli tennis player Aaron Cohen in the [[ITF Junior Circuit]] in Tunisia, where he also played against Tunisian player Karim Chedly.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200131-saied-demands-investigation-into-israeli-participation-in-tunisia-competition/ |title=Tunisia calls for probe into Israel participation in tennis competition | work=[[Middle East Monitor]] |date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
At the [[2020 Fed Cup]], the Israeli and Tunisian national women's tennis teams met in Helsinki. The decision was criticized by the Tunisian Foreign Ministry, which accused the Tunisian team of violating "the historic commitments of Tunisia towards the Palestinian cause".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://thearabweekly.com/tunisia-normalisation-debate-invades-tennis-courts | title=In Tunisia ‘normalisation’ debate invades tennis courts | work=[[The Arab Weekly]] | date=February 8, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
Tunisian [[Aziz Dougaz]] competed against Israeli Dudi Sela at the [[2020 Morelos Open – Singles]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news-tunisia.tunisienumerique.com/tunisia-aziz-dougaz-to-face-israeli-player-dudi-sela-at-morelos-open/ |title=Tunisia-Aziz Dougaz to face Israeli player Dudi Sela at Morelos Open |website=tunisienumerique.com |date=19 February 2020}}</ref> |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[Foreign relations of Israel]] |
* [[Foreign relations of Israel]] |
||
*[[Foreign relations of Tunisia]] |
* [[Foreign relations of Tunisia]] |
||
* [[History of the Jews in Tunisia]] |
* [[History of the Jews in Tunisia]] |
||
* [[Judeo-Tunisian Arabic]] |
* [[Judeo-Tunisian Arabic]] |
||
Latest revision as of 17:10, 5 April 2024
 | |
 Israel |
 Tunisia |
|---|---|
Israel–Tunisia relations refers to bilateral relations between Israel and Tunisia. There are no official diplomatic relations between the two states. While Tunisia is Sunni moderate Western-allied state with a long history of a Jewish community, it is dependent on relations with Algeria and has a president hostile to Israel.[1]
History[edit]
The earliest contacts between Israel and Tunisia took place at the United Nations in New York in 1951–1952, when Tunisian representatives approached the Israeli delegation and Israeli labor leaders. In June 1952, Bahi Ladgham, a close confidant of Habib Bourguiba, met with Gideon Rafael seeking support for Tunisian independence. Bourguiba stated that he would not seek Israel's elimination and would work to promote peace in the region. In 1956, after Tunisia declared independence, he met secretly with Ya'akov Tzur, Israel's ambassador to France. Later that year, Tsur met with the Tunisian finance minister, who sought Israel's assistance in building cooperative agricultural settlements.[2]
Operation Wooden Leg was an attack on October 1, 1985 by Israel on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) headquarters in Hammam al-Shatt in response to the murder of 3 Israeli citizens in Cyprus.[3] The operation resulted in at least 30 deaths.[4]
In 1987, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ousted Habib Bourguiba in a bloodless coup. While Ben Ali publicly took a strong anti-Israel stance, his administration maintained clandestine contacts with Israel. As a byproduct of the Madrid Conference of 1991, Tunisia and Israel established low-level diplomatic relations culminating in opening an "Interest Section" in each other’s countries in 1996.[1]
Tunisia claims it played a major role in secret talks between the PLO and Israel which led to the Oslo I Accord, signed in September 1993. Salah Masawi, director general of the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that he saw no obstacle to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. In 1993, Yossi Beilin, then Israel's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Tunisia. Direct telephone links were established in July 1993. After the Tunisia offices of the PLO were closed in June 1994, the first Israeli tourists arrived.[5]
In 1994, channels of communication were opened with Israel through the Belgian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tunis.[6] Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia and then-Israeli Foreign Minister Ehud Barak met in Barcelona in 1995 to expand official relations between the two countries.
In 2000, after the Second Intifada, relations worsened and President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali broke off relations with Israel.[1]
In June 2021, both Israel and Tunisia were among 30 countries which participated in the Sea Breeze 2021, multinational naval maneuvers in the Black Sea.[7]
In October 2023, the Tunisian parliament proposed a bill criminalizing ties with Israel. However, on November 2, President Kais Saied interrupted a voting session on the bill to instruct members to dismiss the bill.[8]
Sporting events[edit]
In 2013, Malek Jaziri withdrew from a Challenger tournament in Tashkent after being scheduled to play against Israeli Amir Weintraub. As a result, the International Tennis Federation suspended Tunisia from Davis Cup play. In 2016, the match between Jaziri and Israeli Dudi Sela led to boycotts, although it did occur.[9]
In 2020, Tunisian President Kais Saied called for an investigation following the participation of Israeli tennis player Aaron Cohen in the ITF Junior Circuit in Tunisia, where he also played against Tunisian player Karim Chedly.[10]
At the 2020 Fed Cup, the Israeli and Tunisian national women's tennis teams met in Helsinki. The decision was criticized by the Tunisian Foreign Ministry, which accused the Tunisian team of violating "the historic commitments of Tunisia towards the Palestinian cause".[11]
Tunisian Aziz Dougaz competed against Israeli Dudi Sela at the 2020 Morelos Open – Singles.[12]
See also[edit]
- Foreign relations of Israel
- Foreign relations of Tunisia
- History of the Jews in Tunisia
- Judeo-Tunisian Arabic
- Ghriba synagogue bombing
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Levy, David (June 27, 2023). "Lost Between Recognition and Rejection: Tunisia's Relations with Israel". Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies.
- ^ Laskier, Michael M. (June 2000). "Israel and the Maghreb at the Height of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: 1950s – 1970s". Middle East Review of International Affairs.
- ^ Leone, Dario (July 9, 2019). "The True History of Israel's Operation Wooden Leg and the Longest-Range F-15 BAZ Strike Ever Made". The National Interest.
- ^ Prial, Frank J. (October 2, 1985). "ISRAELI PLANES ATTACK P.L.O. IN TUNIS, KILLING AT LEAST 30; RAID 'LEGITIMATE,' U.S. SAYS". The New York Times.
- ^ The Middle East and North Africa 2003. Psychology Press. ISBN 9781857431322 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Tunisia Adds Its Name to the List of Those Initiating Ties with Israel". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. October 3, 1994.
- ^ Goncharenko, Roman (29 June 2021). "Sea Breeze: Ukraine, US Black Sea drills raise tensions with Russia". Deutsche Welle.
- ^ El Atti, Basma (28 November 2023). "The anti-Israel law dividing Saied and Tunisia's parliament". The New Arab.
- ^ Tandon, Kamakshi (September 21, 2016). "Political boycott over, Tunisia's Malek Jaziri plays Israel's Dudi Sela". Tennis.
- ^ "Tunisia calls for probe into Israel participation in tennis competition". Middle East Monitor. January 31, 2020.
- ^ "In Tunisia 'normalisation' debate invades tennis courts". The Arab Weekly. February 8, 2020.
- ^ "Tunisia-Aziz Dougaz to face Israeli player Dudi Sela at Morelos Open". tunisienumerique.com. 19 February 2020.
| Africa |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Americas | ||
| Asia | ||
| Europe | ||
| Related topics | ||
