Israel, Tunisia OK Stronger Ties; U.S. Hails Move
Israel and Tunisia agreed Monday to open diplomatic offices in each other’s countries by April 15, in a move hailed by the United States as a new step forward in the Middle East peace process.
The foreign ministers of the two countries finalized the agreement, which falls short of full diplomatic relations, at a joint meeting in the State Department with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
The two countries will establish so-called diplomatic interests sections, which enable nations to station diplomats in countries with which they do not have normal relations. The new offices in Tunis and Tel Aviv will be hosted by the Belgian embassies there.
Flanked by Israeli Foreign Minister Ehud Barak and Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib ben Yahia, Christopher said the move was “an important step to widen the circle of peace” in the Middle East.
Israel has full diplomatic relations with Egypt and Jordan. Morocco is the only Arab country with which the Jewish state has an interests-section arrangement.
Israel has agreed to establish such an arrangement with Mauritania at an undetermined date and also hopes for one with Oman, Israeli officials said.
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