Maximum Security for Pilgrimage to Tunisian Synagogue

Almost all of Tunisia's Jews have had to flee their native lands because of Islamic fundamentalism. This pilgramage to the Ghriba Jewish prayer house will occur in May. The same location was attacked by Islamists in 2002. The Jewish prayer house has been there for more than 2,500 years.

From ANSAmed:

The Ghriba synagogue, in the village of Er Riadh on the island of Djerba (in Southern Tunisiàs Gulf of Gabes) will host a pilgrimage between April 30 and May 2 for at least 5,000 Jews coming mainly from North African countries. Celebrations in Africàs oldest Jewish place of worship (the synagogue was built over 2,500 years ago) will mark the 33rd day after the Jewish Easter. The opening ceremony for the celebrations will feature an address by Tunisiàs Chief Rabbi, Haim Bittan. Some commentators say that the presence at the ceremony of Tunisiàs Tourism Minister, Slim Tlatli, reinforces the climate of fraternity and friendship that exists among Tunisiàs various religious and social groups. Proof of this comes from the figure of Roger Bismuth, a Tunisian Jew, parliamentarian and founder of the group that bears his name, which specializes in the food, chemical, electrical and services industries. The build-up to the event, however, has not been entirely positive. On April 14, Maya Jribi, general secretary of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) was reported by the Palestinian news agency Paltoday as having asked the government "to ban Israelis from coming to Djerba". Such stances aside, though, security measures have been stepped up significantly over the last few days. Nobody has forgotten the attack on the Synagogue on April 21 2002, which claimed 21 lives, mostly German tourists. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda.