Tebboune Reveals Israeli Plan to Bomb Algiers in 1988 During the Proclamation of the Palestinian State

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune revealed on Thursday, October 9, 2025, that Israel had planned to bomb the Club des Pins in Algiers in 1988, at the time of the proclamation of the State of Palestine. This is the first time in 37 years that an Algerian official has publicly spoken about this incident, which had long circulated as a rumor.

A Threat Ignored in Defense of Palestine

Speaking during an address at the Ministry of National Defense, Tebboune recalled that the proclamation of the Palestinian State in November 1988 took place at Club des Pins in Algiers, amid significant security threats.

“It was here that the Palestinian State was proclaimed, despite all the dangers at the time. You, the officers, are aware of the threats that were being plotted against Algeria, including the bombing of Club des Pins,” declared the head of state before senior officers of the National People’s Army (ANP).

Tebboune added that Algeria had not backed down, despite the risks.

“We had no interest other than our conscience toward a people fighting against colonization,” he emphasized, underscoring that Algeria’s support for the Palestinian cause is not a matter of diplomacy but rather a moral and historical duty.

Responding to Attempts to Rewrite History

The Algerian president also reacted to recent media controversies seeking to downplay Algeria’s historic role in defending Palestine and the Arab world.

In late September, the channel Al Arabiya broadcast a fake audio recording attributed to Gamal Abdel Nasser, falsely claiming that the Egyptian leader minimized Algeria’s participation in the Six-Day War in 1967.

In response, the Algerian Press Service (APS) condemned “an attempt to distort history and sow discord between Algiers and Cairo,” pointedly asking:

“Who is afraid of perfect harmony between Algiers and Cairo?”

Tebboune echoed that sentiment:

“We do not need anyone’s recognition; our conscience is enough. The Palestinians themselves attest that Algerians fought in Palestine as early as 1948.”

Unwavering Loyalty to the Palestinian Cause

The president recalled that Algeria hosted Yasser Arafat and Palestinian leaders in 1982, before supporting the proclamation of the State of Palestine six years later in Algiers.

“No one can outbid us. We expect no reward for what we have done. It is a duty, in continuity with the message of our martyrs,” he stated.

Tebboune also highlighted Algeria’s pivotal role at the United Nations, advocating for Palestine’s admission as an observer member and defending its cause within the Security Council.

“For us, the solution is a Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital. Our position has not changed and will not change,” he affirmed.

Condemning the Genocide in Gaza

Referring to the ongoing war in Gaza, Tebboune denounced what he called a genocide unfolding before the world’s eyes:

“For the first time in history, all of humanity has witnessed live a massacre in which buildings collapse daily on their inhabitants.”

This statement reaffirms Algeria’s firm and historic stance in support of the Palestinian cause, seen as a symbol of Arab solidarity and political sovereignty in the face of external pressure.