Tunisia’s parliament initiated discussions on Thursday regarding a proposed bill that seeks to make any form of normalization of relations with Israel a criminal offense, amid ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
The draft bill specifies “normalization” as encompassing the “recognition of the Zionist entity or the establishment of direct or indirect ties” with it, with such actions deemed as “high treason.”
According to the proposed legislation, individuals convicted of “the crime of normalization” would be subject to imprisonment ranging from six to ten years and a fine between 10,000 to 100,000 Tunisian dinars (equivalent to 3,000 to 30,000 euros). In cases of repeat offenses, life imprisonment would be imposed.
“There is total agreement between the president, the parliament and public opinion” on this matter, parliamentary speaker Brahim Bouderbala told lawmakers at the start of the session.
“We strongly believe Palestine must be liberated from the river to the sea.. and that a Palestinian state must be established with Holy Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.
At the commencement of the session, parliamentary speaker Brahim Bouderbala conveyed that there is complete consensus among the president, parliament, and public sentiment regarding this issue.
The legislation was formulated and endorsed by a faction of lawmakers aligned with President Kais Saied in late October. President Saied had previously amended the constitution to establish an ultra-presidential system in the aftermath of a 2021 coup.
It would also proscribe any interaction between Tunisians and Israelis, including “events, demonstrations, meetings, exhibitions and competitions” in any context, be it “political, economic, scientific, cultural, artistic or sporting” in territory held or occupied by Israel.
Over the past month, thousands of Tunisians have taken to the streets in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment since the October 7th attack by Hamas, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians, according to Israeli officials.
Since then, more than 9,000 Palestinians have been killed, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says, two-thirds of them women and children.
The present Tunisian parliament, elected at the conclusion of 2022, comprises a total of 160 deputies.
Tunisia is home to a Jewish community of approximately a thousand individuals, with the majority residing on the southern island of Djerba.
Each year, thousands participate in the annual pilgrimage to the El Ghriba synagogue located on the island in May.
