By Lennox Kalifungwa<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tunisian President Kais Saied recently compared the Jewish state to Nazi Germany. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile Tunisians protected Jews during the Holocaust, today, elderly women and children are being bombed in Gaza,\u201d he said<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Two Jewish cousins were among those murdered<\/a> on May 9 near a Tunisian synagogue, the president\u2019s comments came days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis,\u00a0called<\/a>\u00a0on European governments to condemn Saied\u2019s statement, which he said implies \u201cthat the Jews of Tunisia are responsible for the bombing of Gaza\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThrough such wanton remarks, the president continues to incite further hatred and even attacks against the country\u2019s Jewish community, heaven forbid,\u201d Goldschmidt said. \u201cSince the attack, the Jewish community of Djerba has not been visited or contacted by any members of the government. The Tunisian president together with the relevant authorities should instead be offering support to the Jewish community and working to ensure its safety\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviel Haddad, 30, a dual Israeli-Tunisian, was killed on May 9 alongside his cousin Benjamin Haddad, a 42-year-old French citizen. Three security personnel were also killed when a Tunisian National Guard member opened fire on people near Ghriba Synagogue on May 9 as Lag B\u2019Omer celebrations were underway. A dozen others were injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Produced in association with\u00a0<\/em>Jewish News Syndicate<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n