The El Ghriba synagogue
Photo: AP
Israel warns of attacks on Jews in Tunisia ahead of festival
Ahead of Lag BaOmer celebrations in Tunisian holiday island of Djerba later this month, the Counter-Terrorism Bureau says there is 'a high threat level against Jewish targets' from terrorist elements.
Israel on Monday issued a "severe" warning to its citizens to avoid visiting Tunisia where hundreds of Jewish pilgrims will be celebrating the religious Lag BaOmer festival later this month.
"There is a severe travel warning for Tunisia (high concrete threat)," the Counter-Terrorism Bureau said in a statement released by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Terrorist elements, especially those affiliated with Global Jihad, continue to operate in Tunisia and commit attacks; therefore, there is a high threat level against Jewish targets," said the statement.
The El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba (Photo: AP)
Last year, Tunisia was hit by a string of attacks claimed by the Islamic State group that killed dozens of holidaymakers in the North African country.
But the 2014 edition of Lag BaOmer in the Tunisian holiday island of Djerba took place without incident, despite a similar warning from Israel.
This year the festival -- during which pilgrims visit the tombs of revered rabbis as well as the famed El Ghriba synagogue -- will take place May 25-26.
Djerba is home to one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world.
But the number of pilgrims visiting El Ghriba have fallen sharply since a 2002 suicide bombing claimed by Al-Qaeda that killed 21 people.
Prior to the attack, the celebrations in Djerba would attract almost 8,000 people each year, including from France, Israel, Italy and Britain.
