Welcomes Jewish Pilgrims Back To Tunisia
Amidst Tight Security
Tight security has been witnessed in Tunisia following the annual Jewish pilgrimage to the Africa’s oldest synagogue.
Wednesday, small groups of pilgrims start arriving in the searing heat at the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba in southern Tunisia for the Lag BaOmer festival.
Tunisia has heavily deployed hundreds of security forces to ward-off potential jihadist attacks.
Organizers expect up to 2,000 people to visit over the two days. There have been worries about security following a series of jihadist attacks in the North African country. ISIS threat in neigbouring Libya has been factored in the heightened security.
Following these terrorist attacks, the number of visiting pilgrims has declined sharply.
Before the 2002 suicide attack claimed by Al Qaeda, the event used to attract as many as 8,000 pilgrims.
