TUNIS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia on Thursday refuted reports about having diplomatic talks with Israel to normalize ties, after Israeli media reported that the two countries were "in contact to move toward closer ties."
A statement from Tunisia's Foreign Ministry reiterated Tunisia's firm position for the just Palestinian cause and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and denounced some foreign media's practice of "fabricating and disseminating lies and rumors in repeated attempts to undermine Tunisia's image."
Tunisia has no interest in establishing diplomatic relations with an "occupying entity," the statement added.
The statement was made in response to Israeli media reports that the two countries were in contact to normalize bilateral relations.
The Hebrew-language Israel Hayom news website reported on Wednesday that Tunisia and Israel have been exchanging diplomatic feelers in the hopes of moving toward closer ties, but the effort has been met with fierce opposition. ■