The ancient El Ghriba Synagogue in Djerba. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – A report by a Tunisian counterterrorism expert claims that the North African jihadist group Ansar al-Sharia may be planning attacks against Jewish tourists as well as other Western targets in North Africa.

According to the report published by the Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Ali Zawi, a Tunisian counterterrorism expert, told the London-based Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi that he believes Jewish tourists visiting the Tunisian island of Djerba, home to one of the oldest synagogues in the world and a small Jewish community, may be targeted.

Additionally, the expert said that well-known Ansar al-Sharia operative Khaled al-Shaeb may be connected to planning these attacks.

Tunisia, which is attempting to restore its government and economy following Arab Spring protests in 2010, has made headlines over recent visits by Jewish tourists to the country. Tourism Minister Amel Karboul and Deputy Interior Minister for Security Ridha Sfar were censured in April by Islamists and others in the Tunisian parliament for allowing Jewish tourists in with Israeli passports.