'Not solidarity, but meddling': Tunisians hit back at Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar's remarks on Djerba attack

Israel's condemnation of a machete attack on a Jewish jeweller in Tunisia's Djerba sparked a backlash, in which Tunisian critics have hit back and accused Tel Aviv of meddling in domestic affairs and "politicising" the incident.

The attack occurred on the eve of Lag Baomer, a Jewish holiday marked by pilgrimage to the historic El Ghriba Synagogue, and left one person seriously injured with several fingers severed.

In a post on X, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Thursday described the assault as an "antisemitic act" and urged Tunisian authorities to take stronger measures to protect the country's Jewish minority. He also drew parallels to a deadly shooting that took place during the same holiday in 2023, near the same location.

Sa'ar's remarks were met with sharp criticism in Tunis, where many saw his statement as opportunistic rather than a genuine expression of solidarity.

"What happened on the island of Djerba is an internal Tunisian affair that should be handled by its authorities", wrote MP Fatima al-Messadi in a Facebook post.

"Your statements do not express solidarity, but represent a blatant and unacceptable interference in the affairs of a sovereign state."

Al-Messadi also accused the Israeli government of selective humanitarianism, pointing to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and accusing Israel of "trading on people's pain" while "remaining silent about the deaths of thousands of Palestinians."

Echoing this sentiment, Mustapha Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights, argued that Tunisia is a civil state and does not accept lessons from anyone on protection based on religion, ethnicity or origin. 

"Tunisian law applies equally to all, and the only standard is citizenship."

Tunisia's own leadership, however, has faced scrutiny for rhetoric perceived as antisemitic. 

President Kais Saied has drawn international criticism for remarks widely condemned by Jewish organisations.

In 2023, he suggested that the naming of Storm Daniel, which caused devastating floods in Libya, was part of a Zionist conspiracy, calling it a form of "mental infiltration." 

The Anti-Defamation League and other groups denounced the claim as conspiratorial and dangerous.

The Djerba incident has renewed concern over the safety of Tunisia's small but historically rooted Jewish community, which now numbers around 1,500 to 2,000, the majority residing on the island. 

Tunisian authorities have yet to release an official statement on the assault, and local media coverage has been limited. In the absence of clarity, competing narratives have emerged.

Israeli media reported that the attacker had scouted Jewish-owned shops the day before the attack and returned the following morning to target a jewellery store run by two Jewish brothers. 

The assault was stopped when one of the victims cried out, alerting nearby shoppers, who intervened and subdued the assailant before police arrived.

Some activists and commentators on social media, however, have questioned whether the motive was antisemitic. They suggest it may have stemmed from a personal dispute or a failed robbery attempt.

"If it were a hate crime, he would have attacked the first person he saw. Instead, he went deep into the market—where many Jewish traders work—before selecting a specific target," said prominent pro-Palestine activist Ghassan Ben Khelifa.

Ben Khelifa further accused Israel of attempting to position itself as the guardian of Jewish communities worldwide, including in Tunisia, by stoking fear and encouraging social isolation. 

"In the absence of inclusive state policies, some Tunisian Jews may, unfortunately, be drawn into this dynamic, deepening divisions and leaving the community vulnerable to politicisation," he warned.

The El Ghriba Synagogue—believed to be the oldest in Africa—has long symbolised Tunisia's multicultural heritage but has also been the target of repeated attacks, including bombings in 1985, 2002, and most recently during the 2023 pilgrimage.

The recurrence of violence has raised concerns that even Djerba's most revered symbol of coexistence is no longer immune to potential hate crimes.

Each year, thousands of pilgrims travel to the island, home to most of Tunisia's remaining Jewish population, to celebrate Lag Baomer. 

Last year, due to security concerns, community leaders scaled back festivities, limiting them to the 2,600-year-old El Ghriba synagogue rather than the island-wide events traditionally held.

Perez Trabelsi, head of the island's Jewish community, said the community did not feel directly threatened, but acknowledged that its leadership felt compelled to take protective measures.