Tunisian legislator rips Israeli flag to protest formal ties

A left-wing opposition coalition proposed a bill making it a crime to "normalise" relations with Israel, but the debate has been indefinitely delayed because parliament officials did not see at as a priority.

Tunisia's president has played down the proposed law.

Opposition lawmaker Ammar Amroussia tore the flag on Tuesday to protest the delay, in images shown on national television.

Moderate Islamist party Ennahdha, part of the governing coalition, warned such a law could hurt Tunisia's relations with western nations and international organisations.

Tunisia, like most Arab countries, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Tunisia was long seen as a model of tolerance in the region but has faced growing extremism.