As thirty years have passed since a Lebanese suicide bomber, aligned with Hezbollah, killed 85 people at a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, senior government officials from the U.S. and around the world will gather in Argentina next week to commemorate the solemn anniversary of this unresolved crime.
The attack occurred on July 18, 1994, targeting the Associación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), a pivotal institution in the Buenos Aires Jewish community.
The commemoration, spanning multiple days and culminating in a major memorial event, will bring together Latin American leaders, members of Congress, and anti-Semitism envoys from over two dozen nations. U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Marc Stanley highlighted the event's emphasis on "the enduring absence of justice for Argentina and its community," speaking to Jewish Insider on Monday.
In a somber reflection, Stanley pointed to the AMIA bombing as a stark reminder that "terrorism still exists." He underscored the recent landmark ruling by Argentina's highest court in April, finally placing blame for the attack on Iran. This decision came just months after the U.S. issued its first indictment related to the bombing, charging a Lebanese-Colombian citizen with playing a key role.
However, Stanley lamented the fact that despite these developments, no one tied to the attack has yet faced extradition or gone on trial. This lack of accountability, he argued, emphasizes the ongoing threat posed by terrorism and the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation to bring perpetrators to justice.
* The Jewish Insider contributed to this report
