In Djerba island's main Jewish neighbourhood, Hara Kebira, residents silently grieve for Aviel Haddad and Benjamin Haddad; the friends they lost in an attack on the local synagogue on Tuesday night.
Some restaurants and shops have closed their doors, as many head to the capital Tunis, where authorities have taken the two Jewish victims for autopsy.
But despite an overwhelming sense of sadness felt in the Hara Kebira Jewish quarter, faint sounds of friendly conversations can be heard.
Djerba is home to more than 1,000 Jews, North Africa’s largest Jewish community.
Thousands of Jews from around the world visit the island every year in a pilgrimage to Africa’s oldest synagogue, Ghriba.
Houri Mickael, 56, a survivor of the attack, enjoying a meal with his family at a tiny Brik [a deep fried Tunisian pastry] restaurant, recalled the moment the attack unfolded.
“The moment my wife and I arrived by taxi to the [synagogue’s] front door, we could hear the gunfire. Police immediately took us inside, and we remained locked there for two hours,” he said.
Despite the anxiety of the unknown, Mr Mickael said he felt safe.
“They did their best to defend us, we felt we were safe.”
Mr Mickael, who was born in Djerba and left at the age of 12, told The National that the Tunisian police treated them with kindness and respect.
“I don’t think that the work of one person could destroy the reputation of an entire country like Tunisia,” Mr Mickael told The National.
“Tunisia and its people mean a lot to me, this man has failed in his life and does not even know what Islam means.
“No religion will ever say that you need to love one person and hate another … we are all born from the same place” he added.
For many years, Mr Mickael and his wife, Gila, made it a habit to visit Ghriba to reconnect with their roots. They plan to return next year.
“This man has done a lot of harm to people and to his country, but Tunisia has always been an open and hospitable country so I do not believe that something like this would deter me from coming back,” Mr Mickael told The National.
He understands, however, the implications of this attack, but remains hopeful.
“I understand that what happened was shocking for sure and people have the right to panic, But I believe time is capable of healing everything,” Mr Mickael said.
Mr Mickael and his wife Gila are not planning to cut their visit short.
“This thing could have happened anywhere in the world. We should just take this into consideration and reinforce security but not to the extent of saying that we do not want to stay here any more, it’s a mistake.”
According to authorities, more than 5,000 Jews, mostly from abroad, participated in this year’s pilgrimage.
The event takes place around Lag BaOmer, on the 33rd day of the Jewish festival of Passover, which celebrates the Jews' escape from Egypt.
The annual pilgrimage is attended by Jewish and Muslim locals, who use it as an opportunity to celebrate a peaceful coexistence between the different communities in the country.
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7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
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1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
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3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
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Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
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Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
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FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
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The specs
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Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
