Jewish jeweler hospitalized after axe attack in Tunisia

DJERBA Tunisia AP The Jewish owner of a jewelry store in Tunisia was hospitalized Thursday after an axe attack on the island where Africa s oldest synagogue is located The -year-old man was admitted to a hospital in Djerba where several of Tunisia s remaining Jews reside society leader Rene Trabelsi advised The Associated Press The attack comes one week before Jewish pilgrims are expected in Djerba for the holiday Lag B Omer Across the island and at the -century-old El-Ghriba synagogue Jews welcome thousands each year for three days of festivities Trabelsi who is Jewish and served as Tunisia s tourism minister from to noted little was known about the attacker adding he did not assume it had to do with religion or the holiday but would await findings from Tunisian bureaucrats about anticipated motives We fully trust Tunisian officials because we re Tunisian too he noted Trabelsi mentioned that the store owner was expected to be circulated from the hospital on Friday after sustaining defensive wounds Tunisian police have expanded measure on the island Trabelsi stated Two years ago a -year-old Tunisian national guardsman killed two Jewish pilgrims and three assurance officers during the festival Events were scaled back last year Tunisian bureaucrats have not commented on reports of the attack Source