Israeli- Tunisian contacts to resume relations

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that Israel received positive signals from Tunisia on the intention of resuming diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The paper quoted the Tunisian foreign minister, al-Habib Bin Yahya, as saying during talks he had held several days ago with American sides that "Tunisia is concerned in taking part in the peace process," adding that his country saw the address of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon at Hersilia conference as very important. The Tunisian foreign minister Bin Yahya said that he is very interested with the visit of the Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom to Tunisia. He said "Shalom is a dear friend and I am pleased to have open relations among ourselves."

Israeli- Tunisian relations halted following the eruption of the Palestinian Intifada in September 2000. The Israeli Liaison office in Tunis was closed. The paper said that "advanced talks" were held between the two sides recently during which the two sides discussed the "possibility of resuming political and tourism relations" between Israel and Tunisia, especially as thousands of Israeli tourists stopped coming to Tunisia after the closure of the Israeli Liaison office.