On the morning of July 18, 1994, a car bomb destroyed the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, leaving 85 dead and 300 wounded. The deadliest terrorist attack ever in Argentina’s history came just two years after the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires.
In observance of this horrific event, AJC Latino and Latin American Institute along with Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center (ATJC) and over 30 local Jewish organizations will host a community-wide memorial ceremony on the 18th anniversary of the bombing, Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 7 p.m. at ATJC: 20400 NE 30th Avenue, Aventura, FL.
The Hon. Chaim Shacham, Consul General of Israel and the Hon. Miguel Talento, Consul General of Argentina will address the audience. This year’s featured speaker, Ana Weinstein, witnessed the attack and will share her story of survival at the memorial. The program will also include a candle-lighting ceremony in which organization representatives will light remembrance candles.
In 2006, an official Argentine government report prepared by Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman identified Iranian and Hezbollah figures as responsible for the attack. INTERPOL issued red notices for the capture of six suspects, including Ahmed Vahidi, now Iran’s Defense Minister.
“The lack of justice after 18 years, where no single person sits in jail, should alert us about the dangerous partnership between the terrorists who planned and executed the attack with the Iranian support and the local connection in Argentina which facilitated it,” said Juan M. Dircie, Associate Director- Miami of AJC Latino and Latin American Institute. “Peace loving people must unite in condemning this lethal alliance.”
AMIA is an AJC international partner. Since the 1994 terrorist attack, AJC has worked very closely with the Argentine Jewish community to bring forth justice.
For more information, call ATJC at 305- 937-1880 or visit ATJC.org or AJC.Org.
