Lydda, Ramleh, and Ben Shemen “Ramleh was a prosperous business centre and many Jews built houses and shops there. ‘Sephardic Colonies’ of immigrants from Toledo, Madrid and other Spanish towns also existed in Ramleh and Jerusalem. There were immigrants from Africa, and there is mention of one who came from the Sahara Desert to settle in Jerusalem.” Source: The Three Historical Memoranda. Submitted to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. On behalf of the Vaad Leumi General Council of the Jewish Community of Palestine. Palestine, Immigration and Emigration”, “Sefer Ha’Yishuv”, Vol. II, p.25.