A young non-Jewish Spaniard who entered Israel illegally was today sentenced to three days imprisonment and a fine of about $20 in Israel currency, but was not ordered expelled from the country.
The youth, who jumped overboard from a Norwegian tanker Sunday and was arrested while swimming to shore, told the magistrate that “Israel is a country and I want to settle here.” He also told the court that he was a descendant of a family of Marranos–Jews who accepted Christianity under pain of death during the Spanish Inquisition, but who continued to practice Judaism secretly. He said that he had fought against France during the Spanish rebellion.
Passover may be over, but your chance to support independent Jewish journalism isn't. Help JTA keep reporting the stories that define our era.
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.
