February 18, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on February 18, 2013

Tunisian Jewish cemetery vandalized

Published on January 28, 2013

More than 68 gravestones were found ransacked and graves were looted at a Jewish cemetery in the coastal Tunisian town of Sousse.

Tunisian minister wishes Jews a Merry Christmas

Published on January 2, 2013

A Tunisian minister in charge of emigres wished a Merry Christmas to the country’s Jews.

Islamist leaders vow unity against Israel

Published on November 15, 2012

At a conference that drew a roll-call of the Islamist leaders who have gained influence in the wake of Arab Spring revolts, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal won a noisy welcome and pledges of support on Thursday.

Kidnapping plot against Tunisian Jewish community reportedly foiled

Published on November 1, 2012

A network plotting to kidnap and ransom members of a southern Tunisia town's Jewish community was broken up by the country's national guard, a Tunisian newspaper reported.

The Arab Spring springs surprises

Published on August 15, 2012

When a popular uprising started in Tunisia less than two years ago, it took the world by surprise. Not many observers had anticipated the outbreak, let alone the success, of popular uprisings in a region far better known for the longevity of its tyrants and despots.

May 30, 2012

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on May 30, 2012

Amid security concerns in Tunisia, a smaller Hiloula celebration

Published on May 14, 2012

Two thousand years ago, a mysterious woman who was unable to talk arrived on this island. Every sick person she touched was healed. Although she died when her wooden house caught fire, her body remained intact and did not burn.

Hundreds make pilgrimage to Tunisian synagogue

Published on May 10, 2012

Hundreds of Jews gathered on Tunisia's Djerba Island as part of a pilgrimage to the 2,500-year-ol d El Ghriba synagogue.

Israel’s counterterrorism bureau upgrades Tunisian threat

Published on May 3, 2012

Israel's counterterrorism bureau has reiterated a travel advisory to Tunisia, despite plans to reinstate an annual pilgrimage to the grave of a Jewish mystic.

All in

By Rob Eshman
Published on April 4, 2012

Two years ago, before our very eyes, a liberation movement of great courage and hope began to unfold halfway around the world. Blood ran like water in the streets of distant capitals, and still people fought, flesh against tanks, citizens against infantry, poets against police.

Tunisia’s Jews keep wary eye on political developments

Published on April 3, 2012

Tucked on a quiet side street blocks from the Mediterranean Sea, the last kosher restaurant in the Tunisian capital is a thriving center of Jewish tradition in a country of 10 million with nearly an entire Arab and Muslim population. Yet Jacob Lellouche, who has owned and operated Mamie Lily since it opened 16 years ago, says his business is hardly a Jewish bubble.

Tunisian officials decry anti-Semitic chants at rally

Published on March 28, 2012

Tunisia's Religious Affairs Ministry condemned anti-Semitic epithets shouted at a rally in Tunis calling for the imposition of Islamic law in the country's new constitution.

Arab Spring fatigue or American fatigue?

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 14, 2012

March 12, 2012

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 12, 2012

Opinion: Tunisian pizza

By Gina Nahai
Published on January 4, 2012

There’s a concept in the Persian language – ghessmat – for which no exact equivalent exists in English. It refers to a person’s unrelenting, inescapable, for better or worse but either way, it was designed and executed specifically for you, destiny.

Tunisian president calls on Jews to return

Published on December 19, 2011

The interim president of Tunisia called for its Jews to return, although it was not clear if he was reflecting the Islamist-led coalition.

Is Syria next?

By Steve Greenberg
Published on November 2, 2011

Editorial cartoon

Tunisia condemns Israeli assistance offer to its Jews

Published on March 29, 2011

Tunisia's government condemned an Israeli government decision to offer extra financial assistance to Tunisian Jews wishing to immigrate to Israel. The approval of the new program amounts to interference in Tunisia's domestic affairs and "an attempt by Israel to tarnish the post-revolutionary image of Tunisia," Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, the Associated Press reported. Under the plan approved at a Cabinet meeting Sunday, Tunisian immigrants will receive special financial assistance of more than $9,000 in addition to the usual aid provided to new immigrants.

Tunisia Jewish leader meets interim PM over safety concerns

Published on February 15, 2011

Tunisia's Jewish community is concerned for its security in the wake of anti-Jewish protests outside of the capital's main synagogue, a community leader said. The head of the Tunisian Jewish community, Roger Bismuth, met over the weekend with the country's interim prime minister, Mohammed Ghanoucci, and requested better security for the country's 1,500 Jews, the French news agency AFP reported.

First Tunisia, then Egypt: Which Mideast autocracy will be next to fall?

Published on February 15, 2011

With popular uprisings having toppled two Arab dictators in the space of just a few weeks and unrest reverberating across the Middle East, are other regimes likely to fall, too? Nearly everywhere in the region, autocratic leaders seem to be on the defensive. Using carrots or sticks, and sometimes both, they’re struggling to curb growing protest movements.

Tunisian synagogue attack disputed

Published on February 2, 2011

A Tunisian synagogue was not the target of arsonists, a Jewish leader asserted, contradicting another leader. Jewish community leader Perez Trabelsi on Tuesday told the French news agency AFP that the synagogue in the southern Gabes region was burned Monday night by arsonists; he said the Torah scrolls were damaged in the fire. "I condemn this action and I believe those who did it want to create divisions between Jews and Muslims in Tunisia who have lived for decades in peace," Trabelsi later told Reuters.

Arsonists strike Tunisian synagogue

Published on February 1, 2011

The Torah scrolls at a Tunisian synagogue were burned in a fire reportedly set by arsonists. The synagogue in the southern Gabes region was set ablaze Monday night. Jewish community leader Perez Trabelsi told the French news agency AFP about the scrolls and criticized police for not stopping the attack. "I condemn this action and I believe those who did it want to create divisions between Jews and Muslims in Tunisia who have lived for decades in peace," Trabelsi told Reuters.

Egyptian protestors call for more rallies

Published on January 26, 2011

Egyptian activists urged protestors to take to the streets for a second day of anti-government rallies.

Tunisian Jews flee upheaval for Israel

Published on January 20, 2011

Twenty Jews from Tunisia have come to Israel amid the political upheaval and violence in the African nation. Ten of the Tunisian Jews who came to Israel this week are members of one extended family and have officially made aliyah, according to a Jewish Agency spokesman. Another 10 are young people who have arrived to participate in an Israel experience program; it is not clear if they are planning to make Israel their permanent home. Several hundred of the 1,500 Jews living in Tunisia also are considering making aliyah to escape the current political situation in the country, according to reports. About 1,100 Tunisian Jews live in Djerba, with the rest in the capital city of Tunis.

Tunisia: the first Arab revolution

By Mona Eltahawy
Published on January 19, 2011

Every July 23 for the past 58 years, Egypt, my country of birth, has celebrated its “July revolution” that overthrew King Farouk and ended the monarchy and British occupation once and for all. It was no revolution: It was a coup staged by young army officers. And so it has been with a series of “revolutions” around the Arab world in which a succession of military men went on to lead us in civilian clothes — some kept the olive drabs on — and rob generations of the real meaning of revolution. For years I looked at the Iranians with envy — not at the outcome of their 1979 revolution, but because it was a popular uprising, not a euphemism for a coup.

Amid crisis and violence, Tunisian Jews safe but guarded

Published on January 18, 2011

The violence roiling Tunisia hasn’t put the country’s 1,500 or so Jews in serious jeopardy, but Jewish organizations are increasingly concerned about their fate as massive anti-government protests continue.

AUDIO: The Jews of Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, India, China and Iran

By The Web Guy
Published on July 12, 2008

Jewish communities that we don't hear very much about, in Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, India, China, Iraq and Iran

In Tunisia, Jews enjoy stability, but not democracy

By Larry Luxner
Published on January 24, 2008

In many ways Tunisia is unique in the Arab world. Tunisia's president promotes education and protects Tunisian Jews from the chaos and religious extremism enveloping much of North Africa. Tunisia has also played a very constructive and positive role in the Middle East peace process. However, stability in Tunisia -- for its Jews and for the country as a whole -- has come at the expense of democratic rights.

Wiesenthal Center honors one of Shoah’s righteous Arabs

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 12, 2007

On Monday morning, when the Simon Wiesenthal Center observes Yom HaShoah, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, a place of honor will be reserved for the daughter of the late Khaled Abdelwahab. Abdelwahab is the first Arab to be nominated for official recognition by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among the Nations, and his story adds a new dimension to the 6 million stories of horror -- and occasionally nobility -- rising from the ashes of the Holocaust. His acts also shed light on the little-known fates of Jews in the Arab countries of North Africa during World War II.

A Relative Peace for Those in Tunisia

By Janine Zacharia
Published on April 8, 2004

Throughout much of the Arab world and Europe, three and a half years of intensive Israeli-Palestinian violence has deepened anti-Israeli and even anti-Semitic sentiment among populations, recent polls have shown. But in Tunisia, home to one of the last significant Jewish populations in the Arab world, Jews there say their lives have continued peacefully.

Tunisian Jews Defy Attack

By Judith Fein
Published on May 2, 2002

Jews here persevered with their annual Lag B'Omer celebration this week in spite of a recent terrorist attack that rocked their tiny island community. The numbers were down from past celebrations, but still hundreds of tourists came to join the 1,000 Jewish Jerbans for the pilgrimage festivities.