The photo, which sparked controversy and anger on the communication platforms, was taken while the heads of state participating in the climate summit hosted by Egypt stood to take group photos, and it showed Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaking with the Prime Minister of Tunisia.
An episode (8/11/2022) of the "Shabbat" program shed light on the reactions on the communication platforms towards the conversation and the smiles exchanged between the Tunisian official and the Israeli president, despite the position of the Tunisian state opposing normalization with Israel, as well as the personal position of Tunisian President Kais Saied, who denounces the term Normalization with Israel, and considers it to be belittling the matter and describes normalization as a high treason, and vows to punish traitors.
For his part, activist Ahmed Hafsi saw that what happened was a slip from the Tunisian Prime Minister, so he wrote, “An unacceptable fall for the Tunisian prime minister, and behind the picture is possible another story that we did not see the details of because the woman seems embarrassed in front of the courtesies of the Israeli president, in the last the friendly conversation that Najla gathered Boden in the Israeli president does not represent neighboring Tunisia, the leadership and the people."
Pierre Abi Saab wished that Boden would not have invited the head of the Israeli entity to visit Tunisia. He tweeted, "This smile that tops the gaps of the Tunisian Prime Minister, at the climate conference of the usurping entity President Isaac Herzog, is a sinful smile! I hope you didn't invite him to visit Tunisia!"
Walid Kabir wondered about the Tunisian president's comment on this conversation. He wrote, "Direct normalization between Tunisia and Israel, would Qais Saeed consider it a high treason?"
On the other hand, Nour Ali saw that normalization between Tunisia and the Zionist entity exists, but from under the table. She said, "The Jews are present in Tunisia, and the Jews of Tunisia are always on visits to Israel, meaning that they are printed under the table for years."
Sabri Karim believes that the conversation does not mean normalization, so he said, "If you talk to him, this does not mean anything, and what will you do? He evaded, Bouteflika, when the prime minister of the Zionist entity shook hands with him, was normalization after that!"
It is worth noting that the Tunisian state had previously confirmed its rejection of any initiatives for normalization with Israel, and the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said - in a previous statement - "Tunisia is not interested in establishing diplomatic relations with an occupied entity and will remain officially and popularly as a support for the Palestinian brothers in their struggle until their legitimate rights are restored, foremost of which is the establishment of the state. The independent Palestinian Authority, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.