Five European Algerians, all Frenchmen, all believed to be members of the OAS, the secret French army organization opposed to Algerian independence, went on trial here today for the bombing of shops owned by Jews in Oran, Algeria, last summer.
The men faced a special military court convened here. Arrested last August, the prosecution now demands heavy prison terms for the men. During the bombings, one Jewish businessman, M. Levy, was injured while his store was wrecked. The defendants are accused of having used plastic bombs–the usual OAS terroristic weapon–against Jews who had contributed funds to the FLN, the Moslem independence movement.
(In Mexico City, Dr. Nahum Goldmann told a press conference last night that the status of the 150, 000 Jews in Algeria has been guaranteed. He said he had been given assurance that the Algerian Jews will be able to choose recognition as French nationals or as Algerian citizens.)
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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.