Jewish pilgrims commends inviting Sharon to Tunisia

Jewish pilgrims including Israelis who concluded on Friday special annual religious rituals in al-Gharbeyah synagogue in Jarba Island to the south of the capital Tunis commended "Tunisia's bravery" for inviting the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to take part in the world summit on the information society in October 2005 in Tunisia.

The director of the Jewish Forum in Paris, Evan Levie, described this step as "a brave action which has its own indications.. Tunisia in particular and the Arab Maghreb in general are in the forefront of countries which seek for Arab- Israeli peace."

In the same context, the chairman of the International Center for Peace in the Middle East, Ofer Bronshtine, hailed the Tunisian President Zine al-Abidin Bin Ali and commended his "abnormal courage."

Meantime, some 130 Jews of Algerian origin, in a visit to Algeria since the beginning of the week visited the tomb of one Jewish Rabbi who lived in the 14th century in Talmasan. The visit was made in the presence of the French Ambassador in Algeria and representatives for the Algerian authorities.

The participation of the Algerian foreign minister in this visit was announced but abrogated later.