"Tunisia is our country and we do not need to leave"

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki Tunis – Nabil Zaghdoud In a meeting with Tunisia’s Grand Rabbi Haim Bittan, newly elected Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki called on Jews who have left to return to their homes in Tunisia. Following the meeting with Marzouki, the Grand Rabbi said “The meeting was cordial,” expressing his gratification to Marzouki’s attention to Jews and his emphasis that they are full citizens in Tunisia. On another level, Bittan expressed his hope that the Tunisian government and officials would lead the country to a better place.
Marzouki’s call for Tunisia’s Jews came in response to Israeli deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom’s call on the country's remaining Jews to emigrate to Israel, a call rejected by the Grand Rabbi and head of the Jewish Community in Tunisia, who both stressed in many occasions that “Tunisia is our country and we do not need to leave, and should we want to leave, we do not need some invitation.”
Tunisian President met Monday afternoon at Carthage Palace with Sheikh Othman Battikh, Mufti of the Republic, who explained in a statement following the meeting that discussions addressed the view of religious life in Tunisia and the prospects of restoring the true image of Islam, with all its tolerance and moderation, to the country. He added that they stressed the importance of spreading correct religious awareness, in cooperation between the government and men of jurisprudence, Imams, and religious institutions.
Marzouki also met with Tunisia’s Archbishop Maroun Lahham, who believed that the meeting is “A chance to address the situation of Christian churches in Tunisia,” which according to him remains in peace surrounded by the love and trust of the Tunisian people.