The ministry says the “ill-disposed” call amounts to meddling in Tunisia’s domestic affairs and “an attempt by Israel to tarnish the post-revolutionary image of Tunisia.” Monday’s statement via state news agency TAP comes a day after Israel’s Cabinet said Prime Benjamin Netanyahu cited “real distress” among Tunisia’s Jews and pledged extra money and aid to help them immigrate.

Tunisia’s tourism industry has suffered after a popular uprising drove President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee in January. Two-thirds of Tunisia’s estimated 1,500 Jews live on the island of Djerba — a popular vacation spot.