Description

This report provides an overview of November 1942 on the political activity of elected Muslim officials, reformist ulama, the Algerian People’s Party, etc. We can also read the information on the youth of the Algerian Muslim Congress, the action of the European parties on the Natives, the native workers, the economic question, etc.

Operation Torch, The allied landing in Algeria was successful, and they are being greeted with delirious joy and a little discreet triumph by the Jews. Some young Israelites circulated in arms in Algiers for a few days, until they were withdrawn from them. The Muslim mass is suspicious of foreigners whom the Jews welcome with such enthusiasm. The Jews, who had played an important role in the events of November 8, are trying to approach the American authorities and endeavoring to interest them in their plight. Some of them, like Loufrani and Elie Gozlan, also address themselves to the main Muslim leaders of Algiers, to suggest to them the constitution of a sort of “Common Revendicative Front”.

The Union of Israelites of France was created by the law of November 29, 1941, that of the Israelites of Algeria on February 14, 1942. Its president is André Bakkouche in Constantine, its vice-president Georges Albou.

The report informs us about the numbers of numerus clausus in education. Most of the students are admitted to private Jewish schools which have opened up everywhere. The Jewish leaders who were already spending 40,000 francs a month for their schools, declare themselves unable to finance an additional effort (the Israelite fund supplied by the sequestered buildings has so far been unable to come to their aid). The main Jewish schools are in Algiers, Blida, Médéa …

The Jews were excluded from the ranks of officers of the French army (law of October 3, 1940), then those of non-commissioned officers (law of June 2, 1941), except for those having rendered exceptional services to the country. The Jews who were French citizens were recalled under the same conditions as French citizens of other faiths. Indigenous Jewish reservists are incorporated into a unit of workers-in-training at Chéragas. The ranks of the “Corps Franc d’Afrique” are open to Jews and volunteers of all origins.

The Jews have “sudden demands”, in particular by the drafting of a memoir which was handed over to the American authorities.