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Tunisia starts Jewish pilgrimage to island synagogue amid tight security

Xinhua, May 12, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Jewish pilgrimage of the Ghriba Synagogue in Djerba, a seaside island in the southeastern province of Tunisia, started on Friday under tight security.

This religious event this year saw a record number of pilgrims, said the president of the Ghriba association Perez Trabelsi, adding that 2,500 to 3,000 pilgrims from France, Belgium, Malta and Canada are expected to visit the island of Djerba from May 12 to 14.

"Last year, only 600 pilgrims visited the Synagogue," said Rene Trabelsi, a Tunisian Jew, son of Perez Trabelsi and organizer of the Ghriba visit.

According to him, some 80 media and news agencies around the world will cover this important religious event for the Jewish community.

This event will strengthen the brand image of Tunisia abroad and highlight the efforts made by the Tunisian security, massively deployed in Djerba.

In this sense, security forces' union said in a statement that the they will guarantee the start of the Ghriba Jewish pilgrimage in close coordination with the army.

The general secretary of the union Kamel Zbaa assured to the local press that "all the logistical contribution is there to ensure the success of the Ghriba season." Endit