Rachid Al-Ghannouchi was earlier banned from travelling to the US On a visit to the United States, Rachid Al-Ghannouchi, head of the Tunisian party Ennahda which captured the majority of the country\'s parliamentary seats in a recent election, reassured Israel about its security fears, according to a report was published by “Al-Massira” Tunisian website.
The report stated that, Al-Ghannouchi, who stayed in Washington D.C. last week, had visited the Jewish lobby in the US and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He was also invited by Foreign Policy magazine to award him for being a member of their list of 100 most influential figures of 2011.
It was mentioned in the report that Al-Ghannouchi was banned from entering US for 20 years, after his statement in 1991 supporting executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. His visit aimed to convince the West that political Islam is non-threating, and to provide assurances to Israel.
The report also said that Martin Kramer, a researcher on Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated that Al-Ghannouchi denied in a private meeting his previous statements about Hamas and the Gaza government, as well as his views about supporting Taliban in Afghanistan against the US.
He refused to acknowledge the announcements publicly.
Kramer also mentioned that Al-Ghannouchi expressed his support for the Syrian opposition, saying he would invite the head of the Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun to visit Tunis.
The Weekly Standard magazine had published Al-Ghannouchi\'s comment on the new Tunisian constitution that may include “a section condemning Zionism and ruling out any friendly ties with Israel,” saying “I don’t think this clause will be included in the constitution.”
Al-Ghannouchi continued: “There’s no reason to outline policies about a situation in flux like the Arab-Israeli crisis.\"
\"The only country that should be named in the constitution,” said Ghannouchi, “is Tunisia.”
In addition, the report assured that Al-Ghannouchi admitted in an interview with The Dialogue Channel in London that he held a meeting during his secret visit to Doha, when The emir of Qatar granted him 100 m $ to help his party during the Tunisian elections.