Trial of Leaders of Haifa Riots Suspended; Transferred to Other Court

The trial of Ben Haroush, leader of the North African immigrants in the Wadi Salib quarter of Haifa, who is charged with illegally possessing fire arms and with shooting at policemen during the recent riots in Wadi Salib, was suspended today by a high court order after it opened before a local magistrate in Haifa. Suspended also was the trial of three other Jews from Wadi Salib who are charged with attacking policemen.

The suspension came after the accused demanded the trial be held in another court. The lawyer defending the four also argued that the defense was not given sufficient time to prepare for the trial. Police took precautionary measures to ensure quiet during the trial prior to its postponement.

Meanwhile, the Jewish Agency executive today started discussions on problems concerning the absorption and settlement of new immigrants. The discussions, conducted in the light of the recent disturbances by North African immigrants, have established that if there is any discrimination in the handling of newcomers, it is in favor of non-Europeans.

The director of the Agency’s Absorption Department, Yehuda Braginski, reported at the session that of a total of 160,000 North African immigrants, 120,000 came from Morocco, 103,000 of them since 1954. Of these, 83,000 were sent to development areas where housing was provided.

Of the 19,000 families still in ma’abarot (villages of temporary huts), 6,000 were from North Africa. Many of these North African immigrants had been given housing in agricultural or industrial development areas, but had abandoned the houses, returning to the ma’abarot, Jewish Agency officials reported.

It was also reported at the session that of 19,000 scholarships given jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Jewish Agency for immigrant children, over 70 percent were given to non-European immigrants.