An Israeli official participated for the first time this week in the annual Leg B’Omer pilgrimage festivities on the Tunisian island of Djerba.
Israel recently launched diplomatic relations with the Arab nation by opening an economic interest section. A Tunisian interest section in Israel has been delayed, but is slated to open soon.
The annual pilgrimage, celebrated by the several hundred Jews who live on the island, has become increasingly open over the past few years as relations between Israel and Tunisia have warmed.
As a sign of the new openness, three planeloads of Israelis of Tunisian origin arrived via Rome to join with their relatives and friends for two days of prayer, singing and colorful festivities.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.