An Analysis of President Kais Saied\’s Stance on the Israel-Palestine Issue

GEW Assessment Report

Unrelenting Influence

Tunisia has been underestimated in the ever-changing landscape of Middle Eastern events, despite the fact that its revolutionary example inspired other Arab peoples to take to the streets in 2011 in search of justice, freedom, and democracy. Its former President, Al-Mujahid al-Akbar (i.e. the Great Mujahid) anti-colonialism leader, Habib Bourguiba, was the only and first Arab leader who dared to urge Palestinians, \”As a first step, accept the UN 1947 Palestine partitions plan. Then, if you can, ask for more.\”  (Bourguiba, 1965)The Jericho speech was deemed anathema at the time (it was 1965) by Arab leaders, most notably Gamal Abd al-Nasser. Bourguiba has been labelled a \”traitor\” by some, despite the fact that he has just stated that the Arabs are not prepared to fight. He was a forerunner. For the Arabs lost the battle two years after Jericho\’s speech. Later on, President Yasser Arafat will recognise the wisdom of Tunisia\’s great leader.

As several examples from history show, decisions taken in Tunis\’s corridors of power have far-reaching regional consequences, serving as both a mirror and a model for greater regional dynamics. Tunisia has never been racing for Arab leadership, but it has always been a leader, involuntarily. It is in Tunisia that was proclaimed the first constitution in the Arab world, called \”\’Ahad al-Aman\” (i.e. The Era of Safety) promulgated during the reign of Ahmed ibn Ali al-Husayni, also known as Ahmed Bey I. He ruled Tunisia from 1837 to 1855.

Ahmed Bey I was a progressive ruler who was inspired by the French Revolution and the American Revolution. He believed that Tunisia needed to modernise in order to compete with the European powers. He introduced a number of reforms, including the abolition of slavery, the establishment of a modern army, and the building of schools and hospitals.

To come back to modern times, President Kais Saied\’s attitude on the Israel-Palestine conflict has gained international attention—a view that is deeply anchored in values and closely matches with Tunisian public sentiment.

Tunisia\’s foreign policy, led by President Saied, is more than just a reflection of realpolitik or fleeting relationships. Rather, it represents a strong ideological commitment to the cause of Palestinian independence, echoing wider Arab and Islamic sentiments that have a long history in Tunisia. By refusing to engage in any type of reconciliation with Israel, Saied is ultimately pushing for a foreign policy that is not only ethical but also democratic, in the sense that it respects the desire of the Tunisian people. Tunisia is at a unique crossroads in foreign policy formulation when domestic public opinion, ethical issues, and geopolitical realities all collide.

The ramifications of this approach are numerous. On the one hand, it puts Tunisia in a difficult position within the international community, particularly with Western states that are Israel\’s supporters. On the other hand, it strengthens Tunisia\’s position in the Arab and Islamic worlds, acting as a bulwark against the loss of the Palestinian cause in the face of normalisation agreements reached between Israel and other Arab states.

Unrelenting Support to Palestine

The Tunisian Republic has shown strong support for Palestine amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. This support has been demonstrated through public protests and official statements from the government.

On the streets of Tunis, over 3,000 people took part in a demonstration expressing solidarity with Palestinians currently facing Israeli bombardment. The protesters voiced their opposition to Israeli abuses in Gaza, with one student stating, \”This is a critical moment and we want to say that we’re with Palestine and against the Zionist movement\”(Cordall, 2023).

Tunisian President Kais Saied has also been vocal in his support for Palestine. During the 2019 presidential election, Saied called any move to normalise relations with Israel \”treasonous\”. He has continued to champion Tunisia’s unwavering support for Palestine’s right to resist occupation(AfricaNews, 2023). In August 2023, he reiterated his stance, calling normalisation with Israel \”high treason\”(Talei et. Al., 2023).

In response to the ongoing conflict, Tunisian schools raised the Palestinian flag as a sign of solidarity (Talei et. Al., 2023).

Official Position is People\’s Position

Maybe Tunisia\’s official position regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict is the only, among 22 Arab League members, aligned with that of its people, not because of populism, as some would claim, but because of rationality and democracy, both missing in other Arab countries. Don\’t forget that whatever criticism Mr Saied may face, he has been, all the same, elected by 70 % of the voters in internationally recognised free elections. Who can say better, even among Western leaders?

The Tunisian Republic\’s official stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of strong support for the Palestinian cause. The Tunisian government, led by President Kais Saied, has consistently expressed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people\’s right to resist occupation and establish an independent state.  Saied has also called for the criminalisation of any normalisation of relations with Israel, and a parliamentary committee is currently examining a bill to penalise such a process (AfricaNews, 2023).

The Tunisian presidency has stated that Tunisia expresses its \”complete and unconditional support for the Palestinian people … Its right to recover all of the land of Palestine and to establish their independent state\”(Mbarek, 2023). This stance aligns with the general public sentiment in Tunisia, as evidenced by the large-scale public demonstrations in support of Palestinians (Ben Hamdi, 2023. Ben Mbarek, 2023).

Tunisia\’s stance is also influenced by its historical ties with Palestine. The country hosted the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) from 1982 to 1994 after it left Lebanon. Furthermore, Tunisia has experienced direct Israeli aggression, such as the 1985 bombing of the PLO headquarters in Tunis by the Israeli air force.

In terms of diplomatic relations, Tunisia does not have any formal ties with Israel. President Saied has ruled out any chance of establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, stating that the word “normalisation” does not exist for him when it comes to Israel (Pacchiani, 2023).

In summary, the Tunisian Republic\’s official stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of strong support for the Palestinian cause and resistance to any normalisation of relations with Israel. This stance is reflected in both government policy and public sentiment.

Historical Development

Tunisia\’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has evolved over time, reflecting the changing political landscape both within the country and in the broader Middle East region.

 Habib Bourguiba\’s Presidency

During the presidency of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia adopted a relatively moderate stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In April 1965, as we said, Bourguiba openly criticised the strategies adopted by the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world in their conflict with Israel, triggering a diplomatic storm between Tunisia and other members of the Arab League (Ghiles-Meilhac, 2014). In 1973, Bourguiba announced an initiative to end the Arab-Israeli conflict, stipulating that Israel should accept the principle of the partition of Palestine, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 181 of 1947, and the establishment of a Palestinian state (Documents and Source Material. 1973). This initiative was met with rejection from the Jordanian government, which severed diplomatic relations with Tunisia.

 Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali\’s Presidency

During Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali\’s presidency, Tunisia hosted secret talks between the PLO and Israel which led to the Declaration of Principles on Palestinian Self-Rule, signed in September 1993.  In 1996, Tunisia and Israel established official facilities called \”interests sections\” in each other\’s countries to facilitate political consultations, travel, and trade. However, relations worsened in the early 2000s after the start of the Second Intifada, and Tunisia severed all diplomatic ties with Israel in that same year.

 Tunisia\’s Stance After the Arab Spring

The Arab Spring brought significant political changes to Tunisia, and these changes have influenced the country\’s stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The draft of the Tunisian constitution published in spring 2012 specifically mentioned the Palestinian issue, illustrating the fact that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains very high on the public agenda of Tunisia. However, the Arab Spring may have complicated the peace process, as the democratic rebellions could potentially inhibit steps towards US-backed peace ( Omestad, 2011).

In conclusion, Tunisia\’s official stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under President Kais Saied\’s leadership, is characterised by strong support for the Palestinian cause, resistance to normalisation with Israel, and alignment with the sentiments of the Tunisian people. This stance has historical roots and reflects Tunisia\’s almost unique position in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

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