Jewish community commemorates AMIA centre bombing

Hundreds of Argentines gathered in Buenos Aires Friday to commemorate the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre that killed dozens, demanding justice for a crime for which there has not yet been a trial.

In the worst such attack in Argentina’s history, a car bomb on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured more than 300 at the seven-story Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires.

Two years earlier, an explosion at the Israeli Embassy killed 29 and wounded 200.

"Impunity persists, terrorism too" was the slogan for Friday's 31st commemoration of the AMIA attack – the second such event attended by President Javier Milei, a staunch defender of Israel.

Survivors and victims' relatives hope there will be movement under Catholic-born Milei, who has already visited Israel twice since taking office in December 2023, and has professed a deep interest in Judaism.

In April 2024, an Argentine court found Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for what it called a crime against humanity.

It ruled the likely motive for the attacks was the cancellation by the government under then-president Carlos Menem of three contracts with Iran for the supply of nuclear equipment and technology.

In June, a judge authorized a trial in absentia against ten Iranian and Lebanese defendants -- former ministers and diplomats. 

No date has been set.

Iran has always denied any involvement and has refused to hand over any suspects.

Cover-up?

The Memoria Activa organisation, which represents victims' families, rejects a trial in absentia as it believes it "essential for the accused to participate" for the whole truth to come out.

The AMIA itself is in favour, but has cautioned that "holding a trial only for it to end... in some sort of nullity or a declaration of unconstitutionality would once again be very painful for everyone."

Both organisations have been highly critical of the state's handling of the case. 

Last year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José, Costa Rica, found the state responsible for not preventing, or properly investigating, the AMIA attack.

It also blamed the state for efforts to "cover up and obstruct the investigation."

Late special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, investigating accusations of a cover-up against former president Cristina Kirchner, was later found murdered.

No-one has ever been charged over his death.

Argentina is host to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with nearly 300,000 people living mostly in Buenos Aires. 

– TIMES/AFP