Algeria retroactively protests to France over “Maariv” journalist being part of French PM Valls’ delegation

Algerian diplomacy has gone into action after the proceedings of last April’s high-level Algerian-French Joint Commission and decided retroactively to protest to the French authorities against the “infiltration” of an Israeli journalist under the cover of his French nationality into the national territory as part of the press delegation which accompanied French Prime Minister Manuel Valls during his recent visit to Algeria.

In reply to a written question from an MP, belonging to the Justice and Development Front, Hassan Aribi, who invited him to provide an urgent explanation, on the issuing of a visa to a “Zionist” journalist to enter Algeria, Foreign affairs minister Ramtane Lamamra said that his ministerial department has now officially lodged a protest with the relevant French authorities about this irresponsible act.

Mr Lamamra added that all necessary measures had been taken to prevent the recurrence of such drifts, stressing that Israelis are totally barred from entering the national territory.

 “We have formally notified the French authorities about this gross lapse through diplomatic channels, Mr Lamamra emphasized.

Many disgruntled MPs have criticized the authorities for unwittingly allowing an Israeli-French journalist to accompany French Prime Minister Manuel Valls during his recent visit to Algeria.

Algerians are sensitive towards such burning issues and the visit of the Maariv journalist was seen as an attempt to “normalize” ties with Israel.

Justice and Development Front MP Hassan Aribi raised several questions to Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, asking him to provide clarifications as to how “the Israeli journalist infiltrated the land of the martyrs”, as he put it.

The lawmaker said: “I regret to inform you that millions of Algerians like me went into a state of shock when we were informed that the press of the enemy published a report about Algeria on May 23, 2016 while quoting several Algerian cabinet ministers.”

“The report included exclusive photographs on Algeria taken by the Israeli journalist,” said MP Aribi.

Maariv published later a report on the political and economic situation in Algeria amid allegations on a pseudo “power-struggle” over who would succeed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and as the country goes through a financial crisis as a result of a decline in oil prices.

The “infiltrated” journalist also published photographs on the country’s picturesque scenes. He was able to carry out his mission during the three days he spent in Algeria with a group of French reporters.

The finance, industry and tourism ministers, who made remarks to the newspaper, were not aware that they were talking to an Israeli reporter.

Mr Aribi expressed deep regret that Houari Boumediene International Airport, which is named after the person who always steadfastly supported the Palestine question, was visited by an Israeli.

He also expressed “sadness” that the journalist roamed the streets of the capital and entered state institutions.

This “provokes us as Algerians and it’s frustrating for an Algerian policeman who loves Palestine to accompany this treacherous journalist to guard him without being aware that he is from Israel,” argued the lawmaker.

Addressing the Foreign Minister, Mr Aribi asked “How did agencies falling under your authority grant a visa to this Israeli to enter Algeria? Who is directly responsible for it?”

“Why didn’t the security agencies notice this dangerous violation of national sovereignty?” he wondered. “Is this a setback for the intelligence of the Algerian state or is there any intention to “normalize” ties with the state of the terrorist Zionist entity?”

Sources said that the Algerian Embassy in Paris had denied the journalist a visa on his Israeli passport to cover the news of Manuel Valls’ visit to the country. But he applied several days later on his French passport and got it.