Israel issues citizen Tunisian travel warning

The counter-terrorism unit of the Israeli prime minister’s office has issued a travel warning to its citizens. The warning advises Israelis not to attend the Lag B’omer holiday festivals, which will be held this week on the Tunisian island of Djerba, warning of potential attacks targeting Israeli and Jewish people. In the past, thousands of Jews had traveled from around all over the world to the Tunisian island of Djerba, to mark the annual event. However Israel decided  last year to cancel this event in the wake of the revolution that overthrew the  Zine El Abidene Ali. The Jerusalem Post newspaper, has reported that the celebration this year will test whether the new democratically elected government, formed by the al-Nahda party of the Muslim Brotherhood , will protect minorities in the country or not. A senior member in the Djerba municipality anticipates that hundreds of Jews from France will participate in this years celebrations. However he added that numbers are expected to be less than previous years. TheLag B’omer festival commemorates Rabbi Akiba, and comes after 33 days of Easter. The day is an official holiday in all governmental institutions of Israel. Religious Jews refrain from weddings and other celebrations between the two holidays of Easter and Lag B’omer.