The Immigration Department has ordered the deportation to Russia of an American ex-legionary named Heikel Bernstein, a butcher who has been living in Kfar Ezekiel. Bernstein came to Palestine early in 1918, having joined up in America as a volunteer with the Jewish Regiment to fight for Palestine. On demobilisation he went back to America, returning to Palestine in 1922, and bringing his parents with him. He married in Palestine, and has two children who were born here. On his arrest now in connection with a small matter, the police, looking up his records, have discovered that he and his parents came into Palestine in 1922 on tourist visas and remained in the country permanently. His parents have since died.
Bernstein emigrated to America from Russia in 1910, 21 years ago. He is now Staatenlose, having no American rights, and if the Palestine Government carries out its intention of deporting him to Russia, it means that he will be subjected there to persecution by the Soviets, because he is a Zionist.
Vigorous intervention is being made on his behalf, and it is hoped that the Government will be prevailed upon to cancel the deportation order.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
