Worries of Salafi attack at annual Jewish pilgrimage to Tunisia synagogue

From ANSAmed:

A Jewish pilgrimage this weekend to the most ancient synagogue in Africa will take place under huge police presence amidst fears of a Salafist attack. A little under 1000 Jews are arriving at the so called "island of dreams" on Djerba ahead of the pilgrimage on 26 - 28th April to the El Ghriba synagogue, Tunisia's most ancient Jewish site, and the scene of a 2002 suicide attack by Al Qaeda in which 21 people were killed when a bus full of explosives detonated against its walls. The synagogue, which is located in the Jewish village of Hara Seghira, or 'Er-Riadh', dates back to 586 BC and is revered for the chanting of the Torah which resonates from its walls. This peaceful and meditative place is a symbol to Tunisia's Jewish community, who, until yesterday, had been fully tolerated and fully integrated into Tunisian society. But today's pilgrims will make the visit under a shadow of fear as the threat of attack from certain Salafist elements threatens to cancel out what until now has been a peaceful co-existence.

Hundreds of armed officers are lining the entrance to the island as well as in the traditional sites where pilgrims gather for prayers. Most of the 2000 strong Jewish community - the biggest in the country, lives in Arryadh, where the synagogue is located, and the Tunisian government is determined not to be caught off guard by any potential Salafist trouble.

At a demonstration on January 14 last year to mark Ben Ali's escape, Salafist groups shouted at their Jewish neighbours, and threatened to attack them in their homes. Tunisian Salafists make no distinction between Jews and Zionists and Jewish community leaders are hard pressed to drive home the idea that they are first and foremost Tunisians - by many generations, and only second Israelites. In a bid to cut risk security forces have carried out a "clean sweep", arresting nearly 500 people in the last few weeks.

Hezbollah's Al Manar points to the security measures as proof that Arabs are only against Zionism. not Jews. They don't quite mention how the Al Qaeda attack against the synagogue fits in with that alleged tolerance.

Or how this Hassan Nasrallah's quote fits in with that tolerance as well:

If we searched the entire world for a person more cowardly, despicable, weak and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew. Notice, I do not say the Israeli. (New Yorker, Oct. 14, 2002)

Or how Hezbollah's deadly attack on the Jewish center in Buenos Aries fits in with that famous Muslim tolerance.