French Imams visit Israel to “promote tolerance between Jews and Muslims”

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Sidi Ifni- French imams visited Israel from January 16-19 for the purpose of improving the image Muslims have about this country.

One of the goals of this 12-imam delegation is to dispel some past perceptions of Israel in the eyes of Muslims of France and push them to visit the Hebrew state.

“Many people think that it is forbidden or that it is dangerous, but when they hear the reactions and testimonials of pilgrims who return, they naturally change their minds,” imam Imam Hassan Shaljoumi was quoted by the Israeli website IsraelValley as saying.

According to the same source, this visit is the first of its kind in the tourist history of Israel. The delegation is composed of French, Algerians, Tunisians and Moroccan Muslims living in France.

Since Imam Hassan Shaljoumi took this initiative, more imams have been going on tours to Israel for this purpose.

“Unfortunately, French Muslims are being seen as anti-Semitic,” Hassan Shaljoumi told Maariv daily.

According to Shaljoumi, this initiative has come as part of presenting a different side of Muslims who want to live in peace with Jews. He has travelled to Israel to prove that Muslims are not anti-Semitic.

“There are imams who spread anti-Semitism in the name of Allah. They are a minority,” Shaljoumi said.

Organized by the Embassy of Israel in Paris and supported by the French Foreign Ministry, the imams’ visit follows the accusations leveled against Muslims for showing hatred towards Israelis.

The tour is organized by the Israeli travel agency SelectIsrael.com. According to the website of the agency, the imams’ visit is likely to encourage more Muslims of France to visit Israel.

Shaljoumi plans to organize other tours to Israel next May and November in coordination with SelectIsrael.com and the Embassy of Israel in Paris.

The visit is likely to stir controversy among Muslim communities, particularly those with a majority who are strongly against Israel’s occupation of Arab lands.