B'nai B'rith International (BBI) remembers the 17th anniversary of the March 17 attack against the Israeli embassy in Argentina, which killed 29 people and wounded about 250. No one has yet been arrested, though the Iranian-backed Hezbollah claimed responsibility shortly after the terrorist assault.
A car bomb detonation destroyed the Israeli Embassy in the largest post-World War II attack against Jews until the 1994 bombing of the Argentina-Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA), killing 85 and wounding about 300.
BBI has been a strong advocate in urging Argentina's government to prosecute those bearing responsibility for both attacks. Argentina is home to the largest Latin American population of Jews.
"In this increasing climate of global anti-Semitism, justice must be served in order to send a clear message against terrorism and bigotry," said B'nai B'rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin.
Today, the Israeli Embassy held a commemoration vigil in Buenos Aires, attended by Israeli Ambassador to Argentina Daniel Gazit, and Latin American Director of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Ben Zvi. Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana represented the Argentine government.
