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DJERBA, Tunisia (AP) — The Jewish owner of a jewelry store in
Tunisia was hospitalized Thursday after an axe attack on the
island where Africa’s oldest synagogue is located.
The 50-year-old man was admitted to a hospital in Djerba, where
many of Tunisia’s remaining 1,500 Jews reside, community leader
Rene Trabelsi told The Associated Press.
The attack comes one week before Jewish pilgrims are expected in
Djerba for the holiday Lag B’Omer. Across the island and at the
26-century-old El-Ghriba synagogue, Jews welcome thousands each
year for three days of festivities.
Trabelsi, who is Jewish and served as Tunisia’s tourism minister
from 2018 to 2020, said little was known about the attacker,
adding he did not assume it had to do with religion or the
holiday, but would await findings from Tunisian authorities
about potential motives.
“We fully trust Tunisian authorities because we’re Tunisian
too,” he said.
Trabelsi said that the store owner was expected to be released
from the hospital on Friday after sustaining defensive wounds.
Tunisian police have expanded security on the island, Trabelsi
said.
Two years ago, a 30-year-old Tunisian national guardsman killed
two Jewish pilgrims and three security officers during the
festival. Events were scaled back last year.
Tunisian authorities have not commented on reports of the
attack.
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