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{{Short description|1994 attack on a Jewish Community Centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina}} | |||
The '''AMIA Bombing''' was an attack on the ] (Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, or AMIA) building in ] on ], ], that killed 85 people. Carried out under ]'s presidency (1989-1999), it was ]'s deadliest bombing. Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in ] (] <ref> , '']'', ], ] </ref>). | |||
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} | |||
{{Infobox terrorist attack | |||
| title = AMIA bombing | |||
| image = Atentado_AMIA.jpg | |||
| image_size = 250px | |||
| partof = the ] | |||
| caption = The aftermath of the attack | |||
| coordinates = {{coord|34|36|06.5|S|58|23|58|W|display=inline}} | |||
| location = ], ] | |||
| target = ] | |||
| date = {{start date and age|df=yes|1994|07|18}} | |||
| time = 9:53 a.m. | |||
| timezone = ] | |||
| type = ], ] | |||
| motive = Retaliation for Argentina reneging on nuclear agreements with Iran | |||
| fatalities = 86 (including 1 bomber)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.clarin.com/ediciones-anteriores/caso-amia-fiscales-dicen-identificado-autor-atentado_0_H11WIkwJAtx.html|title=Caso AMIA: los fiscales dicen haber identificado al autor del atentado|trans-title=AMIA case: prosecutors say they have identified the perpetrator of the attack|work=]|date=10 November 2005|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055018/http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2005/11/10/elpais/p-01201.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/755062-identificaron-al-terrorista-suicida-que-volo-la-amia|title=Identificaron al terrorista suicida que voló la AMIA|trans-title=The suicide bomber who blew AMIA have been identified|work=]|date=10 November 2005|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=11 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111043451/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/755062-identificaron-al-terrorista-suicida-que-volo-la-amia|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| injuries = 300+ | |||
| perps = Suspected ] and ] involvement<ref name="researchgate.net">{{Cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249735161 |title=Feldstein, Federico Pablo, and Carolina Acosta-Alzuru. "Argentinean Jews as scapegoat: A textual analysis of the bombing of AMIA." Journal of Communication Inquiry 27.2 (2003): 152–170. |access-date=12 September 2017 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913043836/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carolina_Acosta-Alzuru/publication/249735161_Argentinean_Jews_as_Scapegoat_A_Textual_Analysis_of_the_Bombing_of_AMIA/links/54636c7a0cf2837efdb3074d.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="biblioteca.ribei.org">{{Cite web |url=http://biblioteca.ribei.org/1786/1/WP-18-2009.pdf |title=Karmon, Ely. "Iran and its proxy Hezbollah: Strategic penetration in Latin America." Elcano Newsletter 55 (2009): 32. |access-date=12 September 2017 |archive-date=12 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234422/http://biblioteca.ribei.org/1786/1/WP-18-2009.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC Iran"/><ref name="Death of a Prosecutor"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917124142/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/death-of-a-prosecutor |date=17 September 2017 }}, ''The New Yorker'', Dexter Filkins, 20 July 2015</ref><ref name="jta.org"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917124749/http://www.jta.org/2015/08/03/news-opinion/world/interpol-arrest-warrant-for-iranian-amia-bombing-suspect-still-in-place |date=17 September 2017 }}, JTA, 3 August 2015</ref>{{bulletedlist|Responsibility reportedly claimed by ], a Hezbollah-allied ] group<ref name="Levitt 2013 102">{{cite book|last=Levitt|first=Matthew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6QsxCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA20|title=Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God|publisher=]|year=2013|page=102|isbn=9781626162020}}</ref><ref name="Jerusalem Post">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Palestinian-jihadist-group-splits-from-Hezbollah|title=Palestinian Jihadist group splits from Hezbollah|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=December 6, 2012|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125121912/https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Palestinian-jihadist-group-splits-from-Hezbollah|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia of Terrorism, Volume 1">{{cite book|author=Peter Chalk|title=Encyclopedia of Terrorism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-wwPNjSnxcYC&pg=PA375|year=2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-30895-6|page=375}}</ref>}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Campaignbox South Lebanon 1985–2000}} | |||
The '''AMIA bombing''' occurred on 18 July 1994 in ], ], and targeted the ] (AMIA; {{Translation|"Argentine Israelite Mutual Association"}}), a ]. Executed as a ], a ] was driven into the AMIA building and subsequently detonated, killing 85 people and injuring over 300.<ref name=wj>"AMIA Bombing Commemorated", ''Dateline World Jewry'', ], September 2007</ref> To date, the bombing remains the ].<ref>{{cite news|date=2017-11-06|title=Argentinian lawyer Alberto Nisman was murdered, police report finds|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/06/argentinian-lawyer-alberto-nisman-was-murdered-police-report-finds|access-date=2021-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106163119/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/06/argentinian-lawyer-alberto-nisman-was-murdered-police-report-finds|archive-date=2017-11-06}}</ref> In 1994, Argentina was home to a ], making it the largest in ] and the ] outside of ].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5190892.stm |title= Argentina marks 1994 bomb attacks |work= BBC News |date= 18 July 2006 |access-date= 12 September 2017 |archive-date= 20 July 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060720031535/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5190892.stm |url-status= live }}</ref> | |||
Over the years, the |
Over the years, the AMIA bombing has been marked by accusations of cover-ups. All suspects in the "local connection" (among them, many members of the ]) were found to be not guilty in September 2004. In August 2005, federal judge Juan José Galeano, who was in charge of the case, was impeached and removed from his post on a charge of "serious irregularities" due to his mishandling of the investigation.<ref name="Clarin">{{cite news|title=AMIA: destituyeron a Galeano|newspaper=Clarín|date=3 August 2005|url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/08/03/um/m-1026385.htm|language=es|access-date=18 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627105808/http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/08/03/um/m-1026385.htm|archive-date=27 June 2006|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2005, ] Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became ] in 2013, was the first public personality to sign a petition for justice in the AMIA bombing case. He was one of the signatories on a document called "85 victims, 85 signatures" as part of the bombing's 11th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-pope-has-jewish-connections/|title=New pope has history of good relations with Jewish community|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712234342/http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-pope-has-jewish-connections/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
On |
On 25 October 2006, Argentine prosecutors ] and Marcelo Martínez Burgos formally accused the ] of directing the bombing, and the ] militant group ] of carrying it out.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iran, Hezbollah charged in 1994 Argentine bombing|newspaper=]|date=25 October 2006|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/update_detail.asp?id=11864|access-date=25 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901221807/http://www.thenews.com.pk/update_detail.asp?id=11864|archive-date=1 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="BBC Iran">{{cite news|title=Iran charged over Argentina bomb|newspaper=BBC News|date=25 October 2006<!--, 22:47 GMT 23:47 UK -->|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6085768.stm|access-date=25 October 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061107173306/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6085768.stm|archive-date=7 November 2006|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Richard Horowitz |title=What Nisman Said About Iran – World Policy Institute |url=http://www.rhesq.com/What_Nisman_Said_About_Iran.pdf |access-date=12 September 2017 |publisher=World Policy |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826180428/http://www.rhesq.com/What_Nisman_Said_About_Iran.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the prosecution's claims in 2006, Argentina had been targeted by ] after Buenos Aires' decision to suspend a ].<ref name="La Nación October 2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/852740-acusan-a-iran-por-el-ataque-a-la-amia|title=Acusan a Irán por el ataque a la AMIA|work=]|date=26 October 2006|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=22 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122142129/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/852740-acusan-a-iran-por-el-ataque-a-la-amia|url-status=dead}}</ref> This has been disputed as the contract was never terminated, and Iran and Argentina were negotiating on the restoration of full cooperation on all bilateral agreements from early 1992 until 1994, when the bombing occurred.<ref>{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Gareth|title=Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HK15Ak03.html|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929181340/http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HK15Ak03.html|archive-date=29 September 2018|access-date=12 September 2017|website=]}}</ref> | ||
In 2024, an Argentine court ruled that Iran directed the attack, and that it was carried by Hezbollah. The ruling also characterized Iran as a terrorist state.<ref>{{cite news |title=Argentine Court Says Iran Was Behind Israeli Embassy and Jewish Center Attacks |work=The New York Times |date=12 April 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/world/middleeast/argentina-iran-1992-1994-attack.html |access-date=14 April 2024 |archive-date=13 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413210309/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/world/middleeast/argentina-iran-1992-1994-attack.html |url-status=live |last1=Politi |first1=Daniel }}</ref> | |||
==Bombing== | ==Bombing== | ||
On 18 July 1994, a suicide bomber drove a ] van bomb loaded with about {{convert|275|kg|-2}} of ] fertilizer and fuel oil explosive mixture,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adl.org/israel-international/latin-america/c/amia-attack-in-argentina.html|title=AMIA Attack in Argentina|access-date=4 February 2015|archive-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128113047/http://www.adl.org/israel-international/latin-america/c/amia-attack-in-argentina.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/speeches/speech.asp?sCodigo=05-0282|title=Discursos|publisher=OAS|date=August 2009|access-date=5 November 2008|archive-date=9 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309102428/http://www.oas.org/speeches/speech.asp?sCodigo=05-0282|url-status=live}}</ref> into the Jewish Community Center building located in a densely constructed commercial area of Buenos Aires. The explosive is thought to have been arranged to focus the blast on the building {{convert|3|to|5|m|0}} away, exhibiting a ] or ] effect.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} The exterior walls of this five-story building were of brick masonry construction, which supported the floor slabs. The air blast from the bomb totally destroyed the exposed ]s which, in turn, led to progressive failure of the floor slabs and virtually total collapse of the building.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} Such bearing-wall buildings are notable for their tendency to be brought down in this manner by localized damage.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.nap.edu/read/5021/chapter/1|title=Front Matter – Protecting Buildings from Bomb Damage: Transfer of Blast-Effects Mitigation Technologies from Military to Civilian Applications|year=1995|publisher=The National Academies Press|doi=10.17226/5021|isbn=978-0-309-05375-4|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-date=19 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219061204/http://www.nap.edu/read/5021/chapter/1|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
A high-explosive bomb made of ] was driven in a van through the front gates of the AMIA building in the ] district near downtown Buenos Aires (a piece from the motor was found a week later, by a policeman with ] sympathies whose report was later questionned by the court). The 7-story building was the headquarters of Argentina's Jewish community. According to the police, the bomber detonated the bomb, leveling the building and reducing it to rubble, along with nearby buildings. | |||
===Other bombings=== | |||
85 people died, most of them Jewish. More than 300 others were wounded. The attack came two years after the 1992 ] that killed 29. The authorities weren't able either to find the responsibles of the bombing. | |||
The bombing came two years after the 17 March 1992 ] which killed 29 and wounded 242, and was Argentina's deadliest attack until the AMIA bombing. The ], which according to ] operates under the umbrella of Hezbollah and is linked to Iran,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/interviews/baer.html|title=Interviews – Robert Baer – Terror And Tehran|publisher=]/]|date=2 May 2002|access-date=23 August 2017|archive-date=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604075024/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/interviews/baer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> claimed responsibility for that bombing.<ref name=terrorism>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/threat/terror_92/review.html|title=1992 Global Terrorism: The Year in Review|publisher=]|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208014823/https://fas.org/irp/threat/terror_92/review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was suspected that the AMIA bombing was connected to the embassy attack.<ref name="Norton, Augustus Richard 2007, p.79">Norton, Augustus Richard, ''Hezbollah: A Short History'', Princeton University Press, 2007, p.79</ref> To date, authorities have been unable to locate those responsible for either of the two bombings.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} | |||
The day after the AMIA attack, a suicide bombing on a Panamanian commuter plane killed |
The day after the AMIA attack, a ] killed all 21 passengers, 12 of whom were Jews. Investigators determined that the bombing was perpetrated by a "Lya Jamal" – thought to be "an Arab traveling under an alias, using fraudulently obtained Colombian documents."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827103536/http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_10/issue_18/news_03.html|date=27 August 2006}}, '']'', September–November 2004, issue 18.</ref> | ||
Eight days after the AMIA attack, the ] was car-bombed, and thirteen hours later a similar car bomb exploded outside a Jewish community centre in ]. No one was killed but 22 were injured and "millions of pounds of damage" was done.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/two-guilty-of-embassy-bombing-1314125.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175939/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/two-guilty-of-embassy-bombing-1314125.html |archive-date=2012-11-06 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Two guilty of embassy bombing|work=The Independent|date=12 December 1996|access-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> Five Palestinians were later arrested in London and two convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the bombings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/palestinians-jailed-for-israel-embassy-blasts-1314878.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106175926/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/palestinians-jailed-for-israel-embassy-blasts-1314878.html |archive-date=2012-11-06 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Palestinians jailed for Israel embassy blasts|work=The Independent|date=17 December 1996|access-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> | |||
Eight days after the AMIA attack, the ] was car-bombed. No links between any of these bombings have been proved by investigations, and the motive behind such attacks have not been disclosed (including by those alleging that Iran and the Hezbollah were in fact behind these three bombings, carried out in various countries and far from Hezbollah's theater of operations). | |||
==Investigation and responsibility== | |||
In the days following the bombing, Israel sent ] agents to Argentina to investigate, and Argentina closed its borders, fearing more terrorists could enter. It is thought possible that the bombers entered Argentina through the ], where the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. Argentina's intelligence agency, the '']'' (SIDE), is said to have set up a network of surveillance called "Centauro" in Paraguay. | |||
] to place ] ] on its wanted list]] | |||
In 2018 judicial authorities announced that former President ] would face trial on charges she covered up the role of Iranians in bombing. Federal Judge Claudio Bonadio said that eleven other former officials and people close to Kirchner's government will also be tried on charges of cover-up and abuse of power.<ref>Article {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015154057/https://www.timesofisrael.com/argentina-ex-leader-kirchner-to-be-tried-over-amia-bombing-cover-up/ |date=15 October 2018 }} ''The Times of Israel''. Retrieved 15 October 2018</ref> Kirchner has denied the charges.<ref>Article {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015192256/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/argentina-jewish-center-bombing-cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner |date=15 October 2018 }} ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 15 October 2018</ref> | |||
==Investigation and Responsibility== | |||
No suspects have been convicted for the bombing and there have been a number of allegations made, with later investigations charging the government of Iran.<ref>Article {{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} in Argentine newspaper '']'' on 25. October 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2011</ref> The investigations were marred by incompetence.<ref>Article {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519165930/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1372885-amia-juicio-oral-por-irregularidades |date=19 May 2011 }} in Argentine newspaper "La Nación" on 13. May 2011. Retrieved 31 Mai 2011</ref> In 1999 an arrest warrant was issued against Hezbollah member ] in connection with the attack.<ref name="Norton, Augustus Richard 2007, p.79"/> Argentine justice accused Tehran in 2006 of being behind the attacks,<ref>Article {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214827/http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2006/10/26/elpais/p-01010.htm |date=3 March 2016 }} in Argentine newspaper ] on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2011</ref> and indicted several senior Iranian officials, including ] and ], as well as Hezbollah's ]. It was speculated that Hezbollah was exacting revenge for Israel killing 40 people in ] on 2 June 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-17 |title=Joining Hezbollah |url=https://www.thecairoreview.com/essays/joining-hezbollah/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=The Cairo Review of Global Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2007, several of the charged were placed on ]'s most wanted list, though bylaws prevented listing top officials such as Rafsanjani.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414101929/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2017/07/iran-interpol-cooperation-amia-argentina-bombing-1994.html |date=14 April 2024 }}, Al-Monitor, Arash Karami, 11 July 2017</ref><ref name="biblioteca.ribei.org"/><ref name="BBC Iran"/> As of 2017 the charged suspects (who remain alive) remain ]s.<ref name="Death of a Prosecutor"/><ref name="jta.org"/><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918155604/https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-urges-argentina-to-continue-investigating-amia-bombing-nisman-death/ |date=18 September 2017 }}, ''The Times of Israel'', 18 July 2017</ref> In August 2021, two of the charged suspects, ] and ], were appointed to government of ] in the posts of interior minister and vice president of economic affairs, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-11|title=Iran's new president presents conservative Cabinet list|url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-biden-cabinet-cabinets-ab2104ef849484ea605fe63fbe08ab8d|access-date=2021-08-30|website=AP NEWS|language=en|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830124425/https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-biden-cabinet-cabinets-ab2104ef849484ea605fe63fbe08ab8d|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=AP and TOI staff|title=Iran's Raisi taps minister wanted for role in Buenos Aires Jewish Center bombing|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-raisi-taps-minister-wanted-for-role-in-buenos-aires-jewish-center-bombing/|access-date=2021-08-30|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830124417/https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-raisi-taps-minister-wanted-for-role-in-buenos-aires-jewish-center-bombing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Foreign Ministry condemns appointment of new Iranian interior minister|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/iran-appoints-new-interior-minister-wanted-by-interpol-676458|access-date=2021-08-30|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com|language=en-US|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830124417/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/iran-appoints-new-interior-minister-wanted-by-interpol-676458|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
No suspects have been convicted of the bombing and there have been many allegations made, including those blaming the government of Iran. The investigations were frauded by incompetence, current ] ] calling them a "national disgrace" in 2005. Argentine justice accused in 2006 Tehran of being behind the attacks, allegedly because of Buenos Aires' decision to suspend a nuclear material delivery and technology transfer. | |||
===Claim of responsibility=== | |||
=== Ibrahim Hussein Berro === | |||
Shortly after the attack Ansar Allah, a ] ] organization widely held as a front for ], reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, and for the ] bombing via leaflets distributed in ] and a communique in the Lebanese newspaper ].<ref name="Levitt 2013 102"/><ref name="Jerusalem Post"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of Terrorism, Volume 1"/> | |||
===Ibrahim Hussein Berro=== | |||
Israeli diplomatic sources who read the "final" report by SIDE on the attack said in 2003 that the attack was a ] carried out by ], a 29-year-old Muslim who has been honored with a plaque in southern Lebanon for his martyrdom on ] ], the date of the bombing. SIDE and the U.S. ] confirmed this in ].<ref> Cormier, Bill. "Hezbollah Militant Identified in '94 Blast". ], 2005-11-09. </ref> | |||
Israeli diplomatic sources who read the "final" report by SIDE on the attack said in 2003 that the attack was a suicide bombing carried out by ], a 21-year-old Hezbollah operative<ref name="BBC November 2005"/> who has been honored with a plaque in southern Lebanon for his "martyrdom" on 18 July 1994, the date of the bombing.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}} This investigation was carried out jointly with the U.S. ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Cormier, Bill|title=Hezbollah Militant Identified in '94 Blast|agency=Associated Press|date=9 November 2005}}</ref> Hussein had been identified by FBI and Argentine intelligence, and corroborated by at least three witnesses.<ref name="BBC November 2005">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4423612.stm|title=Buenos Aires bomber 'identified'|work=BBC News|date=10 November 2005|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912104050/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4423612.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> According to official Argentine government prosecutor, ], Hussein's two U.S.-based brothers had testified that he had joined the radical Shia militant group Hezbollah. "The brothers' testimony was substantial, rich in detail and showed that he was the one who was killed," Nisman added.<ref name="BBC November 2005"/> | |||
A BBC correspondent reported that independent investigators were skeptical, and they pointed out repeated incompetence and deception in the official investigation. No proper ] or ] tests were done. The police had also simply dumped a head, thought to be that of the bomber, into a bin.<ref name="BBC November 2005"/> | |||
On 5 July 2017, ] reported that DNA not assignable to any of the victims has been identified. This new evidence will allow investigators to test the prevailing suspicion that the bombing was committed by Ibrahim Hussein Berro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/07/05/dna-discovered-at-site-of-1994-amia-bombing-in-buenos-aires-points-to-hezbollah-suicide-attacker/|author=Ben Cohen|title=DNA Discovered at Site of 1994 AMIA Bombing in Buenos Aires Points to Hezbollah Suicide Attacker|date=5 July 2017|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912102359/https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/07/05/dna-discovered-at-site-of-1994-amia-bombing-in-buenos-aires-points-to-hezbollah-suicide-attacker/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Juan José Galeano's investigations === | |||
===Juan José Galeano's investigations=== | |||
Federal judge Juan José Galeano followed investigations concerning the "local connection", which included members of the '']'', Buenos Aires' police. He quickly arrested Carlos Telleldin, alleged to have provided the van used in the bombing, and some 20 officers from the Buenos Aires provincial police. But a video broadcasted on Argentine TV showed him offerring Telleldin $400,000, in return for evidence, which led to Galeano's removal from the case in 2003, and his ] in August 2005 <ref name="BBC August 2005"> , '']'', ], ] </ref> <ref>, '']'', ], ] </ref>. | |||
Federal judge Juan José Galeano followed investigations concerning the "local connection", which included members of the ''Policía Bonaerense'' (]). He quickly arrested Carlos Telleldín, alleged to have provided the van used in the bombing, and some 20 officers from the Bonaerense. But a video broadcast on Argentine TV showed him offering Telleldín $400,000, in return for evidence, which led to Galeano's removal from the case in 2003, and his ] in August 2005.<ref name="BBC August 2005">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4743927.stm|title=Argentine bomb probe judge sacked|work=BBC News|date=3 August 2005|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=14 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414101941/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4743927.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3289359.stm|title=Argentina removes bomb case judge|work=]|date=3 December 2003|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=5 December 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205194201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3289359.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Judge Galeano had also issued warrants for the arrests of 12 Iranians, including |
Judge Galeano had also issued warrants for the arrests of 12 Iranians, including Hade Soleimanpour, Iran's ] to Argentina in 1994. The latter was arrested in the UK on 21 August 2003, at the request of the Argentine authorities. He was later released because, according to the ], there was not even enough evidence presented to make a '']'' case for the extradition to proceed.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK refuses to extradite Iranian|work=BBC News|date=13 November 2003|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3266011.stm|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825184255/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3266011.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC Flashback">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3179861.stm|title=Flashback: Argentina Bomb|work=BBC News|date=25 August 2003|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=23 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123215601/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3179861.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
Judge Galeano also interviewed Abolghasem Mesbahi, aka "Witness C", an alleged former Iranian intelligence officer who reportedly said a former Argentine president accepted a $10 million payment from Tehran to block the investigation. Former President ] denied the claims, but admitted he had a secret ] following a report in '']''.<ref name="BBC Flashback"/> Menem claimed in 2004 that the attack had been related to his support to the US during the ] and to his visit to Israel during his mandate.<ref name="La Nación October 2006"/> Abolghasem Mesbahi claimed to the Argentine court that Iran had planned the bombing, thinking the centre was a base for the Israeli secret service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3245641.stm|title=Iran blamed for Argentina bomb|work=BBC News|date=6 November 2003|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912104123/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3245641.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In 1999 an arrest warrant was issued against Hezbollah member ], in connection with the attack. | |||
On 2 September 2004, all suspects in the "local connection" (among whom members of the Buenos Aires police) of AMIA case were found to be not guilty.<ref>CRS Report for Congress, RS 21113, 31 March 2005 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129035635/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS21113.pdf |date=29 January 2016 }} Accessed 17 August 2006</ref> Five persons, including four policemen, were therefore acquitted because of lack of evidence.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} | |||
Judge Galeano also interviewed Abolghasem Mesbahi, aka "Witness C", an alleged former Iranian intelligence officer who reportedly said a former Argentine president accepted a $10m payment from Tehran to block the investigation. Former President ] denied the claims, but admitted he had a secret ] following a report in the ] <ref name="BBC Flashback"/>. Menem claimed in 2004 that the attack had been related to his support to the US during the ] and to his visit to Israel during his mandate <ref name="Reuters October 2006"/>. Abolghasem Mesbahi claimed to the Argentine court that Iran had planned the bombing, thinking the centre was a base for the Israeli secret service <ref> , '']'', ], ] </ref>. | |||
On 3 August 2005, Judge Galeano's impeachment was successful, and he was formally removed from his post as a federal judge for "serious" irregularities and his mishandling of the investigation. Argentine newspaper '']'' reports that charges will be pressed against him shortly.<ref name="Clarin"/> Judge Galeano has denied these allegations.<ref name="BBC August 2005"/> | |||
On ] ], all suspects in the "local connection" (among whom members of the Buenos Aires police) of AMIA case were found to be not guilty <ref>CRS Report for Congress, RS 21113, ] ] Accessed ] ]</ref>. Five persons, including four policemen, were therefore acquitted because of lack of evidence . | |||
In March 2005, Swiss judge Jacques Antenen, in charge of investigations concerning the murder of an Iranian dissident, re-opened the case concerning Iranian intelligence service bank accounts in Switzerland. The same account would have been used both for this assassination and for the alleged payment of ex-President Carlos Menem. Swiss Justice had already been notified of the existence of an account owned by the Red Spark Foundation (based in ]), in which ], former secretary of Carlos Menem, had authority to sign documents. Six million dollars would have been deposited in this account, although in some moment the exact amount was said to be of $10 million.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002912/http://www.memoriaactiva.com/noticias2005_marnuevasion1.htm|date=28 September 2007}}, '']'', 23 March 2005, news-article published on-line by {{interlanguage link|Memoria Activa|es}} memorial site</ref> | |||
On ] ], Judge Galeano's impeachment was successful, and he was formally removed from his post as a federal judge for "serious" irregularities and his mishandling of the investigation. Argentinian newspaper ] reports that charges will be pressed against him shortly. <ref name="Clarin"/> Judge Galeano has denied these allegations <ref name="BBC August 2005"/>. | |||
In 2006, the ] declared that the previous court had made a false version of the investigated acts in order to cover irresponsibilities.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622170436/http://www.memoriaactiva.com/noticias_casacion190506.htm |date=22 June 2007 }}, 19 May 2006, on Memoria Activa website</ref> | |||
In March 2005, Swiss judge Jacques Antenen, in charge of investigations concerning the murder of a Iranian dissident, re-opened the case concerning Iranian intelligence service banks accounts in Switzerland. The same account would have been used both for this assassination and for the alleged payment of ex-President Carlos Menem. Swiss Justice had already been notified of the existence of an account owned by the Red Spark Foundation (based in ]), in which ], former secretary of Carlos Menem, had authority to sign documents. Six millions dollars would have been deposited in this account, although in some moment the exact amount was said to be of $10 millions <ref>, '']'', ], ], news-article published on-line by Memoria Activa memorial site </ref>. | |||
===Investigations under Néstor Kirchner's government=== | |||
In 2006, the ] declared that the previous court had made a false version of the investigated acts in order to cover responsibilities <ref> , ], ], on Memoria Activa website </ref>. | |||
]'s government issued a ] in July 2005 formally accepting a share of the blame for the failure of investigations about the attack. He called the unresolved investigations a "national disgrace."<ref name="BBC November 2005"/> President Kirchner said governments had covered up facts, and that the decree established a mechanism for victims to receive compensation.<ref name="BBC August 2005"/> Shortly after assuming his functions in spring 2003, he opened up Argentine intelligence files on the case, and lifted a decree preventing SIDE agents from testifying in the case.<ref name="BBC Flashback"/> | |||
Argentina's justice, Israel, and the United States<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060725231131/http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/hizbalah.htm |date=25 July 2006 }}</ref> suspected in 2005 that ] was behind the attack, with backing from Iran. Hezbollah has denied responsibility.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lebanon.com/news/local/2003/3/20.htm|title=Hezbollah again denies involvement in deadly Buenos Aires bombing|publisher=BEIRUT|date=20 March 2003|agency=Agence France-Presse|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926220040/http://www.lebanon.com/news/local/2003/3/20.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Iranian government maintains its innocence, condemning the terrorist attack and calling for urgent punishment of those responsible.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821130308/http://aftabnews.ir/vdcauyn49onei.html |date=21 August 2007 }} by Iran's foreign ministry spokesman</ref> | |||
=== Investigations under Nestor Kirschner's government === | |||
On 25 October 2006, prosecutors in Buenos Aires formally charged Iran and ] militia Hezbollah with the bombing, accusing the Iranian authorities of directing Hezbollah to carry out the attack and calling for the arrest of former President of Iran ] ] and seven others, including some who still hold official positions in Iran.<ref name="BBC Iran"/> | |||
]'s government issued a ] in July 2005 formally accepting a share of the blame for the failure of investigations into the attack. He called the unresolved investigations a "national disgrace." <ref name="BBC November 2005"/>. President Kirchner said governments had covered up facts, and that the decree established a mechanism for victims to receive compensation <ref name="BBC August 2005"/>. Shortly after assuming his functions in spring 2003, he opened up Argentine intelligence files on the case, and lifted a decree preventing SIDE agents from testifying in the case <ref name="BBC Flashback"/>. | |||
The Justice of Argentine called for the arrest of top Iranian authorities.<ref name="BBC Iran"/><ref name="BBC Iran charged">{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6085768.stm |title= Iran charged over Argentina bomb |date= 25 October 2006 |work= BBC News |access-date= 12 September 2017 |archive-date= 7 November 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061107173306/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6085768.stm |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1159193523281 |author= Ferman, Cynthia |title= The Argentinian and Iranian Tango |work= The Jerusalem Post, jpost.com |date= 1 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111218053425/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1159193523281 |archive-date= 18 December 2011 |df= dmy-all }}{{cite news |author= Pertossi, Mayra |title= Judge: Arrest Ex-President Of Iran |work= The New York Sun |date=10 November 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2006/10/26/elpais/p-01010.htm|title=AMIA: el nuevo fiscal acusó a Irán como responsable del atentado88|date=26 October 2006|trans-title=AMIA: The new prosecutor accuses Iran of being responsible for the attack88|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214827/http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2006/10/26/elpais/p-01010.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Iranian defense minister, ] was accused of masterminding the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grupoemedios.com/noticia.php?id=59834|title=ES OFICIAL – Irán no afloja con el ministro Vahidi y la DAIA pasa factura al Memorandum|publisher=BiTFx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122234705/http://www.grupoemedios.com/noticia.php?id=59834|archive-date=22 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elcronistadiario.com/2013/02/amia-ahmad-vahidi-no-sera-sometido-a-declaracion-indagatoria/|title=AMIA: Ahmad Vahidi no será sometido a declaración indagatoria|trans-title=AMIA: Ahmad Vahidi will not be subjected to an inquiry|language=es|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150124051011/http://www.elcronistadiario.com/2013/02/amia-ahmad-vahidi-no-sera-sometido-a-declaracion-indagatoria/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Argentina's justice, Israel, and the ]<ref></ref> suspected in 2005 that ] was behind the attack, with backing from ]. Hezbollah has denied responsibility.<ref>] (AFP)]</ref> | |||
Argentine's government required the extradition of those accused of the attack but Iran has always refused to accept the verdict of the Argentine's Justice.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928084819/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1178017 |date=28 September 2009 }} La Nación. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2017.</ref><ref name="INTERPOL">{{cite web|url=http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2007/PR200754.asp|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20080301112942/http%3A//www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2007/PR200754.asp|archive-date=1 March 2008|title=Internet / Home – INTERPOL }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_7083000/7083710.stm|title=AMIA: Interpol ratifica arresto de ironies|work=BBC News|language=es|date=7 November 2007|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_7083000/7083710.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405104547/http://www.eluniverso.com/2009/08/23/1/1361/iran-acusa-argentina-injerencia.html |date=5 April 2012 }} El Universo. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2017.</ref> | |||
On ] ], Buenos Aires prosecutor Alberto Nisman (who is Jewish ) formally charged Iran and ] militia Hezbollah with the bombing, accusing the Iranian authorities of directing Hezbollah to carry out the attack and calling for the arrest of former ] ] and seven others, including some who still hold official positions in Iran. <ref name="BBC Iran"/> | |||
In November 2007, Interpol on behalf of the Argentine government, published the names of six individuals (], ], ], ], ] and ])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News-media-releases/2007/PR005|title=PR005 / 2007 / News / News and media / Internet / Home – INTERPOL|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212222136/http://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News-media-releases/2007/PR005|archive-date=12 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> officially accused for their role in the terrorist attack. They were entered in the ].<ref name="INTERPOL"/> | |||
Speaking on state radio, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hoseyni described the accusations against the country as "a Zionist plot." Both Hezbollah and Iran deny any involvement in the bombing. | |||
According to Hoseyni, the accusations were intended to divert "world attention from the perpetration of crimes by the Zionists against women and children in Palestine". | Speaking on state radio, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hoseyni described the accusations against the country as "a Zionist plot". Both Hezbollah and Iran deny any involvement in the bombing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6089788.stm|title=Iran denies Argentina bomb charge|work=BBC News|date=26 October 2006|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912104036/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6089788.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Hoseyni, the accusations were intended to divert "world attention from the perpetration of crimes by the Zionists against women and children in Palestine". | ||
On 6 March 2007, former Congressman ] and former government official Luis D'Elia said they had traveled to Iran where they had received "evidence" from the Iranian government. The evidence alleged that two of the AMIA witnesses were "terrorist dissidents". They also said that there were arrest warrants issued by Interpol for the other two Iranians, Hadi Roshanravani and ]. D'Elia accused the United States government of reaching an "agreement" with the AMIA witnesses in exchange for their testitmony. Laura Ginsber, head of APEMIA ("Agrupacion por el Esclarecimiento de la Masacre Impue de la AMIA) responded that D'Elia's trip to Iran was "not innocent", and that it could be linked with "trying to generate business with Iran".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-81353-2007-03-07.html|title=D'Elía dice que dos testigos de la AMIA son "disidentes terroristas"|trans-title=D'Elia says two AMIA witnesses are "terrorist dissidents"|language=es|publisher=Pagina 12|date=7 March 2007|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191517/https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-81353-2007-03-07.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
===Developments under Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's government=== | |||
{{further|es:Primer juicio por el atentado a la AMIA|es:AMIA 2}} | |||
In November 2008, Carlos Menem was called to testify in an upcoming trial over the AMIA case.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1069929-amia-citan-a-menem-por-obstruir-la-causa|title=AMIA: citan a Menem por obstruir la causa|trans-title=AMIA: Menem is called for obstructing the case|language=es|date=14 November 2008|work=La Nación|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912235740/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1069929-amia-citan-a-menem-por-obstruir-la-causa|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In March 2009, a former investigator in the case, ], claimed he was abducted and tortured by men who told him not to investigate SIDE's involvement in the case.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/09/argentina.probe/|author=Brian Byrnes|publisher=CNN|title=Terror case lawyer alleges agents tortured him|access-date=12 September 2017|date=9 March 2009|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044103/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/09/argentina.probe/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In August 2009, ] reported<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8215293.stm|title=Iran 'minister' on Interpol list|work=BBC News|date=21 August 2009|access-date=22 August 2009|archive-date=23 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823185345/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8215293.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> that ] had become Iran's ]-designate under the 2009 ] administration, and is on ]'s ] over the AMIA bombing. Vahidi led a unit of Iran's ] called ] at the time of the attack, and has been accused of planning the bombings. Iran dismissed this development as a "Zionist plot". On 1 June 2011, ] apologized to Argentina for Ahmad Vahidi's unannounced visit to the country, and announced that he would be leaving Bolivia immediately.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/bolivia/8550445/Iran-defence-minister-forced-to-leave-Bolivia-over-1994-Argentina-bombing.html|author=Robin Yapp|title=Iran defence minister forced to leave Bolivia over 1994 Argentina bombing|date=1 June 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226093540/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/bolivia/8550445/Iran-defence-minister-forced-to-leave-Bolivia-over-1994-Argentina-bombing.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On 31 March 2012, Menem was ordered to stand trial for obstruction of justice in the probe of the AMIA bombing. Menem is accused of helping to cover up the tracks of local accomplices of the attackers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17570484|title=Argentina's Carlos Menem faces bombing trial|work=BBC News|date=31 March 2012|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=11 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611154744/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17570484|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In 2012, Argentina's President ] announced at the ] that Iran and Argentina would meet to discuss Iranian involvement in the attacks. In 2014 she also criticized her country's Jewish leaders for not supporting Argentina's pact with Iran in order to jointly investigate the 1994 AMIA bombing attack:<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.618225|title=Jewish leaders in Argentina blast president's UNGA address|work=Haaretz|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710080535/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.618225|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
] shows the "red alerts" against the imputed Iranian citizens, to "unmask the lies of Nisman," as he said.]] | |||
<blockquote>My country is the only country of the Americas other than the United States of America that was the target of terrorist attacks: one in 1992 when the embassy of Israel was blown up, and the second in 1994 when the headquarters of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) was bombed. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of AMIA. I dare say before this Assembly—in the presence of some of the family members of the victims who have always been with us—that the Government headed by President Kirchner did the utmost and went the greatest lengths to uncover the real culprits, not only because it opened all my country's intelligence files and created a special prosecutor investigation unit, but also because, when in 2006 the justice system of my country accused Iranian citizens of involvement in the bombing of AMIA, I myself was the only President who dared to propose asking the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with and assist in the investigation. That request was made intermittently from 2007 to 2011, until the Islamic Republic of Iran finally agreed to a bilateral meeting, allowing it to be included in the agenda. That meeting led to the signing by both countries of a memorandum of understanding on legal cooperation that allowed for the Iranian citizens who had been accused, and who live in Tehran, to be deposed before the judge. But what happened when we signed that memorandum? It seemed as if all hell had broken out, both nationally and internationally. The Jewish associations that had sought our support for so many years and that had come here with us to ask for help turned against us, and when an agreement was finally reached on legal cooperation they accused us of complicity with the State of Iran. The same thing happened here in the United States. When the vulture funds lobbied before the United States Congress, they accused us of collaborating with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which at the time was known as the Terrorist State of Iran. They even lobbied on their websites, posting pictures of me on the Internet with former President Ahmadinejad as if we were business partners. Just this week, we learned that the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel, in this city, was the setting for a meeting between the Secretary of State of this country and his Iranian counterpart. We are not criticizing them. Quite the contrary, anything that represents dialogue and understanding seems very good to us. But we wish to ask those who have been accusing Iran of being a terrorist State.<ref name="cfkargentina">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfkargentina.com/address-by-cristina-kirchner-at-un-general-assembly-2014/|title=Address by Cristina Kirchner at UN General Assembly, 2014|website=cfkargentina.com|date=24 September 2014|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911205133/http://www.cfkargentina.com/address-by-cristina-kirchner-at-un-general-assembly-2014/|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote> | |||
Argentina's Foreign Minister ] and Iranian Foreign Minister ] met on the sidelines of the UN in ] and promised to continue talks until the 1990s bombings are resolved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-argentina-iran-idUSBRE88R02D20120928|title=Argentina, Iran say to talk until 1990s bombings resolved|work=]|date=27 September 2012|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114104459/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-argentina-iran-idUSBRE88R02D20120928|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Memorandum of understanding== | |||
{{main|Memorandum of understanding between Argentina and Iran}} | |||
].]] | |||
On 27 January 2013, the Government of Argentina announced it had signed a ] with Iran to establish a "truth commission" to investigate the AMIA bombing. According to President Kirchner, the commission was established to "analyze all the documentation presented to date by the judicial authorities of Argentina and Iran...and to give its vision and issue a report with recommendations about how the case should proceed within the legal and regulatory framework of both parties."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/AMIA-attack-Israel-shocked-at-Argentina-Iran-probe|title=AMIA attack: Israel shocked at Argentina-Iran probe|author=Herb Keinon|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=28 January 2013|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912235013/http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/AMIA-attack-Israel-shocked-at-Argentina-Iran-probe|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The news generated several criticisms with David Harris from the ] stating that "the idea of establishing a 'truth' commission on the AMIA tragedy that involves the Iranian regime would be like asking ] to help establish the facts of ]".<ref name="miamiherald">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/30/3208968/argentina-iran-deal-makes-a-mockery.html|title=Andres Oppenheimer: Argentina-Iran deal makes a mockery of justice|work=The Miami Herald|date=30 January 2013|access-date=31 January 2013|archive-date=23 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223002609/http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/30/3208968/argentina-iran-deal-makes-a-mockery.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The U.S. ]'s top official in charge of ] affairs, Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, said she is "skeptical that a just solution can be found" through the Argentine-Iran "truth-commission."<ref name="miamiherald" /> The Jewish community in Argentina issued the statement "to ignore everything that Argentine justice has done and to replace it with a commission that, in the best of cases, will issue, without any defined deadline, a 'recommendation' to the parties constitutes, without doubt, a reversal in the common objective of obtaining justice."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21225832|title=Amia bombing: Argentina and Iran agree truth commission|newspaper=BBC News|date=28 January 2013|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=25 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525165548/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21225832|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On 28 February 2013, the ] approved the memorandum of understanding with Iran by 131 votes in favor to 113 votes against. Israel expressed disappointment at this development.<ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina's Congress okays probe with Iran into 1994 Jewish center bombing|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/argentina-s-congress-okays-probe-with-iran-into-1994-jewish-center-bombing-1.506454|newspaper=Haaretz|date=28 February 2013|agency=Reuters|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234409/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/argentina-s-congress-okays-probe-with-iran-into-1994-jewish-center-bombing-1.506454|url-status=live}}</ref> Guillermo Borger, president of the AMIA, criticized the legality of the memorandum and announced that he would take it to the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2013/02/28/jewish-organization-pledges-to-take-argentina-iran-accord-to-the-supreme-court|title=Jewish organization pledges to take Argentina/Iran accord to the Supreme Court|work=MercoPress|date=28 February 2013|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913043858/http://en.mercopress.com/2013/02/28/jewish-organization-pledges-to-take-argentina-iran-accord-to-the-supreme-court|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In May 2014, the memorandum was declared unconstitutional by the Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1691665-la-camara-federal-declaro-inconstitucional-el-memorandum-con-iran|title=La Cámara Federal declaró inconstitucional el memorándum con Iran|trans-title=The Federal Court declared Iranian memorandum unconstitutional|work=La Nación|date=15 May 2014|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=20 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620233216/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1691665-la-camara-federal-declaro-inconstitucional-el-memorandum-con-iran|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1691877-un-fracaso-que-no-sorprendio-a-nadie|title=Un fracaso que no sorprendió a nadie|trans-title=A failure that did not surprise anyone|work=La Nación|date=16 May 2014|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912235737/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1691877-un-fracaso-que-no-sorprendio-a-nadie|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cij.gov.ar/nota-13397-La-C-mara-Federal-declar--la-inconstitucionalidad-del-Memor-ndum-con-Ir-n-.html|title=La Cámara Federal declaró la inconstitucionalidad del Memorándum con Irán|first=CIJ – Centro de Información|last=Judicial|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234450/http://www.cij.gov.ar/nota-13397-La-C-mara-Federal-declar--la-inconstitucionalidad-del-Memor-ndum-con-Ir-n-.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The memorandum was voided when ] became president of Argentina, as he withdrew the appeal that the Kirchners government had filed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-argentina-government-voids-pact-with-iran-on-amia-bombing/|title=New Argentina government voids pact with Iran on AMIA bombing|work=The Times of Israel|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=14 December 2015|access-date=26 April 2016|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125021044/https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-argentina-government-voids-pact-with-iran-on-amia-bombing/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Recent developments== | |||
{{Copy edit|] |date=May 2024}} | |||
] | |||
On 24 May 2013, it was reported that two of the Iranian AMIA bombing suspects accused of having planned the attack, ] and ], were candidates for the Iranian presidential elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Two-AMIA-bombing-suspects-running-for-Iran-president-314128|title=AMIA bomb suspects run for Iran presidency|work=The Jerusalem Post|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=23 May 2013|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912192252/http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Two-AMIA-bombing-suspects-running-for-Iran-president-314128|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Two suspects of the Buenos Aires AMIA bombing, presidential candidate in Iran|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2013/05/24/two-suspects-of-the-buenos-aires-amia-bombing-presidential-candidate-in-iran|newspaper=MercoPress|date=24 May 2013|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191859/http://en.mercopress.com/2013/05/24/two-suspects-of-the-buenos-aires-amia-bombing-presidential-candidate-in-iran|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2013, Prosecutor ] published a 502-page indictment accusing Iran of establishing terrorist networks throughout Latin America – including in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname – dating back to the 1980s. Nisman also said new evidence underscored the responsibility of Mohsen Rabbani, the former Iranian cultural attache in Argentina, as mastermind of the AMIA bombing and "coordinator of the Iranian infiltration of South America, especially in Guyana", and said US court documents showed Islamist militant ] – who was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 for participating in a foiled plan to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York – was Rabbani's disciple.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prosecutor: Iran set up terrorist networks in Latin America|url=http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Prosecutor-Iran-set-up-terrorist-networks-in-Latin-America-314793|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|agency=Reuters|date=30 May 2013|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011100613/https://www.jpost.com/iranian-threat/news/prosecutor-iran-set-up-terrorist-networks-in-latin-america-314793|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The ] reported that former Argentine interior minister ] was to be investigated for his ties to the bombing. He was alleged to have provided an illegal payment of $400,000 to ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jewish ex-Argentina gov't official to be probed in AMIA bombing|url=http://www.jta.org/2013/06/30/news-opinion/world/jewish-ex-argentina-govt-official-to-be-probed-in-amia-bombing|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=30 June 2013|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234628/http://www.jta.org/2013/06/30/news-opinion/world/jewish-ex-argentina-govt-official-to-be-probed-in-amia-bombing|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
In an interview with Buenos Aires-based Jewish news agency (Agencia Judía de Noticias) on 2 January 2013, Itzhak Aviran, who was the Israeli ambassador to Argentina from 1993 to 2000, said most of the people behind the AMIA attack were eliminated by Israeli security agents operating abroad. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor called Aviran's declarations "complete nonsense".<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel denies it killed most of the AMIA bombers|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.566948|access-date=12 September 2017|newspaper=Haaretz|date=3 January 2014|agency=Reuters|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234747/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.566948|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In January 2015, the prosecutor in charge of the AMIA bombing investigation, Alberto Nisman, filed a 300-page complaint accusing President ] and Foreign Minister ] among other pro-government political figures of "covering up" Iranian citizens allegedly involved in the 1994 attack. Nisman said his accusations were based on phone taps on close political allies of Fernández, who he said conspired in a "sophisticated criminal plan" to negotiate with Rabbani himself, one of the main suspects of perpetrating the deadly bombing. According to the accusation, Iranian oil would be exchanged for Argentine grain, while Argentina would cancel an international Interpol arrest warrant against Rabbani and other senior Iranian officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/argentina-cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner-jewish-community-centre-bombing|title=Argentinian president accused of covering up details about the country's worst terrorist attack|work=The Guardian|date=14 January 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=26 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926091816/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/argentina-cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner-jewish-community-centre-bombing|url-status=live}}</ref> Nisman demanded a preventive embargo of 200 million pesos on Fernández de Kirchner and requested to question her, as well as Timerman, lawmaker of the pro-government organization "]" ], political leader ], the leader of ] Fernando Esteche, members of ], the leader of the Iranian community in Argentina Jorge "Yussuf" Khali, and ex attorney and judge Héctor Yrimia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/179517/amia-prosecutor-accuses-cfk-timerman-of-covering-up-iran|title=AMIA prosecutor accuses CFK, Timerman of 'covering up' Iran's involvement in bombing|work=Buenos Aires Herald|date=14 January 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819104924/http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/179517/amia-prosecutor-accuses-cfk-timerman-of-covering-up-iran|url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 January 2015, Nisman was found dead at his home in Buenos Aires, hours before he was due to explain his allegations at the Argentine parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30877296|title=Jewish centre bombing: Argentine prosecutor Nisman found dead|work=BBC News|date=19 January 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819152217/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30877296|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Mourning-Nismans-untimely-death-Israel-calls-for-his-work-to-be-pursued-388209|title=Israel urges Argentina to pursue Iran terror case after prosecutor's untimely death|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=19 January 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819103631/http://www.jpost.com/International/Mourning-Nismans-untimely-death-Israel-calls-for-his-work-to-be-pursued-388209|url-status=live}}</ref> A gun and spent shell casing were found next to the body, and a government official said the death was likely a suicide although others considered the death suspicious.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutor-who-accused-argentinas-president-of-iran-cover-up-found-dead-1421673152|title=Prosecutor Who Accused Argentina's President of Iran Cover-Up Found Dead|author=Taos Turner|date=19 January 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819104206/https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutor-who-accused-argentinas-president-of-iran-cover-up-found-dead-1421673152|url-status=live}}</ref> The judge ] returned immediately from his vacations to work in the case,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1761313-habilitan-la-feria-judicial-para-tratar-la-denuncia-de-alberto-nisman-contra-la-presidenta|title=Habilitan la feria judicial para tratar la denuncia de Alberto Nisman contra la Presidenta|trans-title=The judicial recess is interrupted to work with Alberto Nisman's denounce against the president|language=es|date=19 January 2015|work=La Nación|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002112612/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1761313-habilitan-la-feria-judicial-para-tratar-la-denuncia-de-alberto-nisman-contra-la-presidenta|url-status=live}}</ref> and to order the protection of Nisman's proofs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1761333-ariel-lijo-ordeno-resguardar-las-pruebas-de-la-fiscalia-de-nisman|title=El juez Ariel Lijo ordenó medidas urgentes para resguardar las pruebas de Nisman|trans-title=The judge Ariel Lijo ordered urgent actions to protect Nisman's proofs|language=es|date=19 January 2015|work=La Nación|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819105031/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1761333-ariel-lijo-ordeno-resguardar-las-pruebas-de-la-fiscalia-de-nisman|url-status=live}}</ref> Nisman was replaced by prosecutor Alberto Gentili.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1761328-el-fiscal-alberto-gentili-reemplazara-a-nisman-en-la-causa-amia-hasta-el-31-de-enero |title=El fiscal Alberto Gentili reemplazará a Nisman en la causa AMIA hasta el 31 de enero |trans-title=Prosecutor Alberto Gentili will replace Nisman at the AMIA case up to 31 January |language=es |date=19 January 2015 |work=La Nación |access-date=12 September 2017 |archive-date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002112808/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1761328-el-fiscal-alberto-gentili-reemplazara-a-nisman-en-la-causa-amia-hasta-el-31-de-enero |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In the week following Nisman's death, and despite the fact that Nisman was going to implicate her among others had he lived, President Fernández de Kirchner declared her determination to replace the Argentine secret security service completely because it had been run beyond the state's control for too long.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30996543|title=Argentine President Kirchner to disband intelligence agency|work=BBC News|date=27 January 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810113553/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30996543|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In March 2015, three former ] officials interviewed by '']'' stated that ] and ] allegedly met in 2007 to discuss payments to the ] in order for Iran to receive Argentine nuclear technology and the cessation of work between Argentina and Interpol involving Iranian individuals.<ref>{{cite news|last=Coutinho|first=Leonardo|title=Chavistas confirmam conspiração denunciada por Nisman|trans-title=Chavistas confirm plot that was denounced by Nisman|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/noticia/mundo/chavistas-confirmam-conspiracao-denunciada-por-nisman|work=]|language=es|date=14 March 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427230042/http://veja.abril.com.br/noticia/mundo/chavistas-confirmam-conspiracao-denunciada-por-nisman|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In March 2015, the Argentine government released a full-page advertisement in national newspapers accusing the late prosecutor Alberto Nisman of having attempted to destabilise the country. The advertisement also argued that the country should revive a controversial agreement with Iran, the country that is suspected of being responsible for the bombings. In addition to that, during a speech, President ] accused Israel of being responsible for the ]. This accusation was based on the allegation that Israel was only demanding justice for the AMIA bombing but not for the embassy attack. This was immediately refuted by the Israeli embassy, which reaffirmed that it does in fact demand justice for both cases.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goñi|first1=Uki|title=Argentina takes out full-page ad to accuse dead prosecutor of 'destabilising' country|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/04/argentina-full-page-prosecutor-alberto-nisman|website=]|date=4 March 2015|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912102647/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/04/argentina-full-page-prosecutor-alberto-nisman|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In December 2015, ], an Argentinean station, released secret tapes of ], in which he admitted Iran was responsible for the bombings concurrent to negotiating with Iran.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154748/http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/327642/argentine-ex-foreign-minister-says-iran-responsible-for-amia-bombings/ |date=18 September 2017 }}, JTA (Forward reprint), 21 December 2015</ref> | |||
On 26 February 2016, the Argentine prosecutor Ricardo Sáenz stated Nisman's death "was a homicide indeed", claiming the case should be directed to the federal justice.<ref name="Cl20160226">{{cite news|work=]|url=http://www.clarin.com/politica/fiscal-afirmo-causa-Nisman-mataron_0_1529847055.html|language=es|title=Un fiscal afirmó en la causa que a Nisman lo mataron|trans-title=A prosecutor says in the case that Nisman was killed|date=26 February 2016|access-date=12 September 2017|last=Duffard|first=Maria Eugenia|archive-date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221082602/http://www.clarin.com/politica/fiscal-afirmo-causa-Nisman-mataron_0_1529847055.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
On 18 July 2019, at the request of Israel and the United States, Argentina officially declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization, freezing assets and expelling all members of the organization from the country, which is held responsible for the 1994 attack against AMIA.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/gobierno-oficializa-decreto-hezbollah-considerado-grupo-terrorista-argentina_0_eWTtCRypT.html|title=El Gobierno oficializó el decreto por el que Hezbollah será considerado grupo terrorista en Argentina|website=Clarin|language=es|date=16 July 2019|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910192352/https://www.clarin.com/politica/gobierno-oficializa-decreto-hezbollah-considerado-grupo-terrorista-argentina_0_eWTtCRypT.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tn.com.ar/politica/el-gobierno-incluye-hezbollah-en-la-lista-de-organizaciones-terroristas_979023|title=El Gobierno incluye a Hezbollah en la lista de organizaciones terroristas|website=TN|language=es|date=17 July 2019|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-date=18 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718143315/https://tn.com.ar/politica/el-gobierno-incluye-hezbollah-en-la-lista-de-organizaciones-terroristas_979023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/macri-prepara-un-decreto-para-declarar-a-hezbollah-grupo-terrorista-nid2265893|title=Macri prepara un decreto para declarar a Hezbollah grupo terrorista|website=La Nacion|language=es|date=9 July 2019|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713014032/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/macri-prepara-un-decreto-para-declarar-a-hezbollah-grupo-terrorista-nid2265893|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/gobierno-ordeno-congelar-activos-organizacion-terrorista-hezbollah_0_kaco8cJF1.html|title=Tras la creación de un registro: La Unidad de Información Financiera ordenó congelar los activos de "la organización terrorista Hezbollah"|website=Clarin|language=es|date=18 July 2019|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118182515/https://www.clarin.com/politica/gobierno-ordeno-congelar-activos-organizacion-terrorista-hezbollah_0_kaco8cJF1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In 2021, the Tribunal Federal Oral 8 declared the case against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner over an alleged cover-up of Iranian involvement in the bombing to be ]; the court unanimously found no wrongdoing on Kirchner's part.<ref name=lanacion>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/sobreseyeron-a-cristina-kirchner-por-la-firma-del-pacto-con-iran-los-jueces-entendieron-que-no-hubo-nid07102021/|work=]|title=Sobreseyeron a Cristina Kirchner por la firma del Pacto con Irán: los jueces entendieron que no hubo delito|trans-title=Case against Cristina Kirchner for Iran deal declared void, judges understood there was no crime|last=Cappiello|first=Hernán|date=8 October 2021|access-date=15 February 2022|language=es|archive-date=3 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103185153/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/sobreseyeron-a-cristina-kirchner-por-la-firma-del-pacto-con-iran-los-jueces-entendieron-que-no-hubo-nid07102021/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=rfi>{{cite web|url=https://www.rfi.fr/es/am%C3%A9ricas/20211008-argentina-kirchner-fue-sobrese%C3%ADda-de-encubrimiento-en-el-ataque-a-la-amia|work=]|title=Argentina: Kirchner fue sobreseída de encubrimiento en el ataque a la AMIA|date=8 October 2021|access-date=15 February 2022|trans-title=Argentina: Case against Kirchner over AMIA attack declared null|last=Buchet|first=Juan|language=es|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215031302/https://www.rfi.fr/es/am%C3%A9ricas/20211008-argentina-kirchner-fue-sobrese%C3%ADda-de-encubrimiento-en-el-ataque-a-la-amia|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In 2023, on appeal, the Federal Chamber of Cassation revoked the dismissal that Cristina Fernández de Kirchner had benefited from and ordered her to be tried for the alleged cover-up for which Alberto Nisman accused her regarding the Argentina-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. The relatives of the victims of the AMIA attack had demanded that the oral trial against the former president be held. The reasons are that "the accused persons are attributed to the organization of a complex criminal plan to achieve or favor the impunity of the Iranian citizens suspected of having participated in the terrorist attack on the AMIA headquarters through two parallel channels, one formal - with the signing of the memorandum of understanding - and another informal, with unofficial negotiations."<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-12 |date=2024-04-12 |language=es |title=AMIA {{!}} Argentina confirma responsabilidad de Irán en el caso de la mutual judía: ¿por qué no ha ido a juicio el peor atentado en la historia del país? |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c3gvpw68w0no |website=BBC News Mundo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-12 |date=2023-09-19 |first=José Pablo |language=es-AR |last=Criales |title=La justicia argentina reabre dos causas contra Cristina Kirchner y la envía a juicio oral |url=https://elpais.com/argentina/2023-09-19/la-justicia-argentina-reabre-dos-causas-contra-cristina-kirchner-y-la-envia-a-juicio-oral.html |website=El País Argentina}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-12 |date=2023-09-18 |language=es-ES |title=Memorándum con Irán: Cristina Kirchner también irá a juicio por el encubrimiento del ataque a la AMIA |url=https://www.infobae.com/judiciales/2023/09/18/memorandum-con-iran-cristina-kirchner-tambien-ira-a-juicio-por-el-encubrimiento-del-ataque-a-la-amia/ |website=infobae}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-12 |date=2024-04-12 |first=Lucía |language=es |last=Salinas |title=Los efectos de un fallo histórico por la AMIA: la Corte tiene en sus manos la última carta de Cristina para evitar el juicio por el Pacto con Irán |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/efectos-fallo-historico-amia-corte-manos-ultima-carta-cristina-evitar-juicio-pacto-iran_0_cgSsoRPTKv.html |website=Clarín}}</ref> | |||
On 11 April 2024, the Argentine Court of Cassation ruled based on confidential intelligence reports that Iran was responsible for planning the attack and Hezbollah for carrying it out. It stated that the attack was launched in retaliation for the Argentine government reneging on three nuclear cooperation agreements that would have provided Iran with nuclear technology, with the intent of putting pressure on Argentina to reverse its decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/argentina-1994-jewish-center-bombing-iran-investigation-36b4f9cbe20900d39d8f28477589a444 |title=Argentine court blames Iran and Hezbollah for deadly 1994 Jewish center bombing |website=Associated Press |language=en |date=12 April 2024 |access-date=12 April 2024 |archive-date=12 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412060537/https://apnews.com/article/argentina-1994-jewish-center-bombing-iran-investigation-36b4f9cbe20900d39d8f28477589a444 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BATIMES">{{cite news |title=AMIA bombing: Argentina court holds Iran, Hezbollah responsible {{!}} Buenos Aires Times |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/amia-bombing-argentina-court-holds-iran-hezbollah-responsible.phtml |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=www.batimes.com.ar |archive-date=14 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414183902/https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/amia-bombing-argentina-court-holds-iran-hezbollah-responsible.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
The ruling allows the families of victims to pursue Iran for compensation through the ] by establishing that both the AMIA bombing and the ] were ], and that states that finance and plan terror attacks can be held responsible for them even when the attack is carried out by a non-state actor. It also included a resolution calling on Argentina to lodge a formal complaint against Iran in international courts.<ref name="BATIMES" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Farda |first1=RFE/RL's Radio |title=Argentinian Court Finds Iran, Proxies To Blame For 1994 Jewish Center Bombing |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-argentina-court-blame-jewish-center-bombing-1994/32903039.html |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en |archive-date=14 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414012510/https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-argentina-court-blame-jewish-center-bombing-1994/32903039.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Following the ruling, Israel requested that Argentina designate the ] as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite news |title=Argentina's highest criminal court blames Iran, Hezbollah for Jewish center bombing |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/argentinas-highest-criminal-court-blames-iran-hezbollah-jewish-center-rcna147548 |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=NBC News |date=12 April 2024 |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413204200/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/argentinas-highest-criminal-court-blames-iran-hezbollah-jewish-center-rcna147548 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
==Alleged assassinations of perpetrators== | |||
In January 2014, Yitzhak Aviran, who had been Israel's ambassador to Argentina at the time, claimed in an interview with a Spanish-language Jewish newspaper that most of the perpetrators of the attack had been tracked down and killed by ], Israel's secret service, saying "a majority of those responsible for the act are no longer alive, and we took care of this on our own."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/.premium-1.567004|title=Former Israeli envoy's diplomatic gaffe on Buenos Aires bombing|date=4 January 2014|work=Haaretz|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912145932/http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/.premium-1.567004|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-bombers-in-amia-attack-were-taken-out-by-israel/|title=Israel has killed perpetrators of 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, says ex-envoy|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816002418/http://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-bombers-in-amia-attack-were-taken-out-by-israel/|url-status=live}}</ref> Aviran's statements caused concern in Argentina, whose Foreign Minister, ], accused Israel of having thus "prevented the gathering of new evidence that could shed light on the affair."<ref name="haaretz1">{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/.premium-1.567004|title=Former Israeli envoy's diplomatic gaffe on Buenos Aires bombing|work=Haaretz|date=4 January 2014|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912145932/http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/.premium-1.567004|url-status=live}}</ref> Argentina also summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires to ask for explanations about Aviran's statements.<ref>{{cite news|title=Timerman: "De las declaraciones de Avirán se deducen las razones por las que Israel se ha opuesto al Memorándum de entendimiento"|url=http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201401/46883-timerman-de-las-declaraciones-de-aviran-se-deducen-las-razones-por-las-que-israel-se-ha-opuesto-con-tanta-vehemencia-al-memorandum-de-entendimiento.html|trans-title=Timerman: "From Aviran's statements deducted the reasons why Israel has opposed the Memorandum of Understanding"|access-date=12 September 2017|date=3 January 2014|agency=Télam|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912144439/http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201401/46883-timerman-de-las-declaraciones-de-aviran-se-deducen-las-razones-por-las-que-israel-se-ha-opuesto-con-tanta-vehemencia-al-memorandum-de-entendimiento.html|url-status=live}}</ref> For its part, the Israeli government, through its own Foreign Ministry, dismissed Aviran's claims as "complete nonsense."<ref name=haaretz1/><ref name=haartez2>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/1.566948|title=Israel denies it killed most of the AMIA bombers|work=Haaretz|date=3 January 2014|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912102439/http://www.haaretz.com/1.566948|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Other opinions== | |||
According to a report in '']'', the author claims that ], United States Ambassador to Argentina at the time of the bombing, told him, "To my knowledge, there was never any real evidence . They never came up with anything." The hottest lead in the case, he recalled, was an Iranian defector named Manoucher Moatamer, who "supposedly had all this information." But Moatamer turned out to be only a dissatisfied low-ranking official without the knowledge of government decision-making that he had claimed. "We finally decided that he wasn't credible," Cheek recalled.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/bushs-iranargentina-terror-frame?page=0,2#|title=Bush's Iran/Argentina Terror Frame-Up|work=The Nation|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806150700/https://www.thenation.com/article/bushs-iranargentina-terror-frame/?page=0,2|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
==Cultural depictions== | |||
In 2009, ] directed '']'', a full-length film which portrays a young woman (Alejandra Manzo) with ] who is lost in Buenos Aires after her mother is killed in the AMIA bombing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458527/combined|title=Anita|date=27 August 2009|publisher=IMDb|access-date=1 July 2018|archive-date=3 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803050630/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458527/combined|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Portal|Argentina|Judaism}} | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] – station commemorating the bombing | |||
{{clear}} | |||
== |
==References== | ||
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* by ] | |||
* ; ] ] (in Spanish) | |||
* ; ] ] | |||
* ] ]; '']'' | |||
* ; ] ]; BBC News | |||
* ; ] ]; BBC News | |||
* ; ] ]; BBC News | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* {{es icon}} | |||
* , {{es icon}} (including official documents) | |||
* | |||
==External links== | |||
] | |||
{{Commons category|Atentado a la AMIA|AMIA bombing}} | |||
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* Iran's view from IRNA | |||
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*; 17 September 2003; BBC News | |||
*; 25 August 2003; BBC News | |||
*; 9 March 2003; BBC News | |||
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* {{in lang|es}} (including official documents) | |||
{{Carlos Menem}} | |||
{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 04:37, 23 December 2024
1994 attack on a Jewish Community Centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina
AMIA bombing | |
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Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict | |
The aftermath of the attack | |
Location | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Coordinates | 34°36′06.5″S 58°23′58″W / 34.601806°S 58.39944°W / -34.601806; -58.39944 |
Date | 18 July 1994; 30 years ago (1994-07-18) 9:53 a.m. (UTC−03:00) |
Target | Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina |
Attack type | Suicidal attack, car bombing |
Deaths | 86 (including 1 bomber) |
Injured | 300+ |
Perpetrators | Suspected Hezbollah and Iranian involvement
|
Motive | Retaliation for Argentina reneging on nuclear agreements with Iran |
South Lebanon conflict | |||||
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|
The AMIA bombing occurred on 18 July 1994 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and targeted the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA; transl. "Argentine Israelite Mutual Association"), a Jewish Community Centre. Executed as a suicidal attack, a bomb-laden van was driven into the AMIA building and subsequently detonated, killing 85 people and injuring over 300. To date, the bombing remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history. In 1994, Argentina was home to a Jewish community of 200,000, making it the largest in Latin America and the sixth-largest in the world outside of Israel.
Over the years, the AMIA bombing has been marked by accusations of cover-ups. All suspects in the "local connection" (among them, many members of the Buenos Aires Provincial Police) were found to be not guilty in September 2004. In August 2005, federal judge Juan José Galeano, who was in charge of the case, was impeached and removed from his post on a charge of "serious irregularities" due to his mishandling of the investigation. In 2005, Catholic Church cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis in 2013, was the first public personality to sign a petition for justice in the AMIA bombing case. He was one of the signatories on a document called "85 victims, 85 signatures" as part of the bombing's 11th anniversary.
On 25 October 2006, Argentine prosecutors Alberto Nisman and Marcelo Martínez Burgos formally accused the Iranian government of directing the bombing, and the Lebanese Islamist militant group Hezbollah of carrying it out. According to the prosecution's claims in 2006, Argentina had been targeted by Iran after Buenos Aires' decision to suspend a nuclear technology transfer contract to Tehran. This has been disputed as the contract was never terminated, and Iran and Argentina were negotiating on the restoration of full cooperation on all bilateral agreements from early 1992 until 1994, when the bombing occurred.
In 2024, an Argentine court ruled that Iran directed the attack, and that it was carried by Hezbollah. The ruling also characterized Iran as a terrorist state.
Bombing
On 18 July 1994, a suicide bomber drove a Renault Trafic van bomb loaded with about 275 kilograms (600 lb) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil explosive mixture, into the Jewish Community Center building located in a densely constructed commercial area of Buenos Aires. The explosive is thought to have been arranged to focus the blast on the building 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 ft) away, exhibiting a shaped charge or explosively formed penetrator effect. The exterior walls of this five-story building were of brick masonry construction, which supported the floor slabs. The air blast from the bomb totally destroyed the exposed load-bearing walls which, in turn, led to progressive failure of the floor slabs and virtually total collapse of the building. Such bearing-wall buildings are notable for their tendency to be brought down in this manner by localized damage.
Other bombings
The bombing came two years after the 17 March 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires which killed 29 and wounded 242, and was Argentina's deadliest attack until the AMIA bombing. The Islamic Jihad Organization, which according to Robert Baer operates under the umbrella of Hezbollah and is linked to Iran, claimed responsibility for that bombing. It was suspected that the AMIA bombing was connected to the embassy attack. To date, authorities have been unable to locate those responsible for either of the two bombings.
The day after the AMIA attack, a suicide bombing on a Panamanian commuter plane killed all 21 passengers, 12 of whom were Jews. Investigators determined that the bombing was perpetrated by a "Lya Jamal" – thought to be "an Arab traveling under an alias, using fraudulently obtained Colombian documents."
Eight days after the AMIA attack, the Israeli embassy in London was car-bombed, and thirteen hours later a similar car bomb exploded outside a Jewish community centre in London. No one was killed but 22 were injured and "millions of pounds of damage" was done. Five Palestinians were later arrested in London and two convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the bombings.
Investigation and responsibility
In 2018 judicial authorities announced that former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner would face trial on charges she covered up the role of Iranians in bombing. Federal Judge Claudio Bonadio said that eleven other former officials and people close to Kirchner's government will also be tried on charges of cover-up and abuse of power. Kirchner has denied the charges.
No suspects have been convicted for the bombing and there have been a number of allegations made, with later investigations charging the government of Iran. The investigations were marred by incompetence. In 1999 an arrest warrant was issued against Hezbollah member Imad Mugniyah in connection with the attack. Argentine justice accused Tehran in 2006 of being behind the attacks, and indicted several senior Iranian officials, including Hashemi Rafsanjani and Ahmad Vahidi, as well as Hezbollah's Imad Mughniyah. It was speculated that Hezbollah was exacting revenge for Israel killing 40 people in Baalbek, Lebanon on 2 June 1994. In 2007, several of the charged were placed on Interpol's most wanted list, though bylaws prevented listing top officials such as Rafsanjani. As of 2017 the charged suspects (who remain alive) remain fugitives. In August 2021, two of the charged suspects, Ahmad Vahidi and Mohsen Rezai, were appointed to government of Ebrahim Raisi in the posts of interior minister and vice president of economic affairs, respectively.
Claim of responsibility
Shortly after the attack Ansar Allah, a Palestinian Jihadist organization widely held as a front for Hezbollah, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, and for the Alas Chiricanas Flight 901 bombing via leaflets distributed in Sidon and a communique in the Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar.
Ibrahim Hussein Berro
Israeli diplomatic sources who read the "final" report by SIDE on the attack said in 2003 that the attack was a suicide bombing carried out by Ibrahim Hussein Berro, a 21-year-old Hezbollah operative who has been honored with a plaque in southern Lebanon for his "martyrdom" on 18 July 1994, the date of the bombing. This investigation was carried out jointly with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hussein had been identified by FBI and Argentine intelligence, and corroborated by at least three witnesses. According to official Argentine government prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, Hussein's two U.S.-based brothers had testified that he had joined the radical Shia militant group Hezbollah. "The brothers' testimony was substantial, rich in detail and showed that he was the one who was killed," Nisman added.
A BBC correspondent reported that independent investigators were skeptical, and they pointed out repeated incompetence and deception in the official investigation. No proper autopsies or DNA tests were done. The police had also simply dumped a head, thought to be that of the bomber, into a bin.
On 5 July 2017, The Algemeiner reported that DNA not assignable to any of the victims has been identified. This new evidence will allow investigators to test the prevailing suspicion that the bombing was committed by Ibrahim Hussein Berro.
Juan José Galeano's investigations
Federal judge Juan José Galeano followed investigations concerning the "local connection", which included members of the Policía Bonaerense (Buenos Aires Provincial Police). He quickly arrested Carlos Telleldín, alleged to have provided the van used in the bombing, and some 20 officers from the Bonaerense. But a video broadcast on Argentine TV showed him offering Telleldín $400,000, in return for evidence, which led to Galeano's removal from the case in 2003, and his impeachment in August 2005.
Judge Galeano had also issued warrants for the arrests of 12 Iranians, including Hade Soleimanpour, Iran's ambassador to Argentina in 1994. The latter was arrested in the UK on 21 August 2003, at the request of the Argentine authorities. He was later released because, according to the Home Office, there was not even enough evidence presented to make a prima facie case for the extradition to proceed.
Judge Galeano also interviewed Abolghasem Mesbahi, aka "Witness C", an alleged former Iranian intelligence officer who reportedly said a former Argentine president accepted a $10 million payment from Tehran to block the investigation. Former President Carlos Menem denied the claims, but admitted he had a secret Swiss bank account following a report in The New York Times. Menem claimed in 2004 that the attack had been related to his support to the US during the First Gulf War and to his visit to Israel during his mandate. Abolghasem Mesbahi claimed to the Argentine court that Iran had planned the bombing, thinking the centre was a base for the Israeli secret service.
On 2 September 2004, all suspects in the "local connection" (among whom members of the Buenos Aires police) of AMIA case were found to be not guilty. Five persons, including four policemen, were therefore acquitted because of lack of evidence.
On 3 August 2005, Judge Galeano's impeachment was successful, and he was formally removed from his post as a federal judge for "serious" irregularities and his mishandling of the investigation. Argentine newspaper Clarín reports that charges will be pressed against him shortly. Judge Galeano has denied these allegations.
In March 2005, Swiss judge Jacques Antenen, in charge of investigations concerning the murder of an Iranian dissident, re-opened the case concerning Iranian intelligence service bank accounts in Switzerland. The same account would have been used both for this assassination and for the alleged payment of ex-President Carlos Menem. Swiss Justice had already been notified of the existence of an account owned by the Red Spark Foundation (based in Liechtenstein), in which Ramón Hernández, former secretary of Carlos Menem, had authority to sign documents. Six million dollars would have been deposited in this account, although in some moment the exact amount was said to be of $10 million.
In 2006, the Court of Cassation declared that the previous court had made a false version of the investigated acts in order to cover irresponsibilities.
Investigations under Néstor Kirchner's government
Néstor Kirchner's government issued a decree in July 2005 formally accepting a share of the blame for the failure of investigations about the attack. He called the unresolved investigations a "national disgrace." President Kirchner said governments had covered up facts, and that the decree established a mechanism for victims to receive compensation. Shortly after assuming his functions in spring 2003, he opened up Argentine intelligence files on the case, and lifted a decree preventing SIDE agents from testifying in the case.
Argentina's justice, Israel, and the United States suspected in 2005 that Hezbollah was behind the attack, with backing from Iran. Hezbollah has denied responsibility. The Iranian government maintains its innocence, condemning the terrorist attack and calling for urgent punishment of those responsible.
On 25 October 2006, prosecutors in Buenos Aires formally charged Iran and Shi'a militia Hezbollah with the bombing, accusing the Iranian authorities of directing Hezbollah to carry out the attack and calling for the arrest of former President of Iran Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani and seven others, including some who still hold official positions in Iran.
The Justice of Argentine called for the arrest of top Iranian authorities. The Iranian defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi was accused of masterminding the attack.
Argentine's government required the extradition of those accused of the attack but Iran has always refused to accept the verdict of the Argentine's Justice.
In November 2007, Interpol on behalf of the Argentine government, published the names of six individuals (Imad Mughniyah, Ali Fallahijan, Mohsen Rabbani, Ahmad Reza Asghari, Ahmad Vahidi and Mohsen Rezaee) officially accused for their role in the terrorist attack. They were entered in the Interpol red notice list.
Speaking on state radio, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hoseyni described the accusations against the country as "a Zionist plot". Both Hezbollah and Iran deny any involvement in the bombing. According to Hoseyni, the accusations were intended to divert "world attention from the perpetration of crimes by the Zionists against women and children in Palestine".
On 6 March 2007, former Congressman Mario Cafiero and former government official Luis D'Elia said they had traveled to Iran where they had received "evidence" from the Iranian government. The evidence alleged that two of the AMIA witnesses were "terrorist dissidents". They also said that there were arrest warrants issued by Interpol for the other two Iranians, Hadi Roshanravani and Hamid Reza Eshagi. D'Elia accused the United States government of reaching an "agreement" with the AMIA witnesses in exchange for their testitmony. Laura Ginsber, head of APEMIA ("Agrupacion por el Esclarecimiento de la Masacre Impue de la AMIA) responded that D'Elia's trip to Iran was "not innocent", and that it could be linked with "trying to generate business with Iran".
Developments under Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's government
Further information: es:Primer juicio por el atentado a la AMIA and es:AMIA 2In November 2008, Carlos Menem was called to testify in an upcoming trial over the AMIA case.
In March 2009, a former investigator in the case, Claudio Lifschitz, claimed he was abducted and tortured by men who told him not to investigate SIDE's involvement in the case.
In August 2009, BBC News reported that Ahmad Vahidi had become Iran's defense minister-designate under the 2009 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administration, and is on Interpol's wanted list over the AMIA bombing. Vahidi led a unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard called Quds Force at the time of the attack, and has been accused of planning the bombings. Iran dismissed this development as a "Zionist plot". On 1 June 2011, Bolivia apologized to Argentina for Ahmad Vahidi's unannounced visit to the country, and announced that he would be leaving Bolivia immediately.
On 31 March 2012, Menem was ordered to stand trial for obstruction of justice in the probe of the AMIA bombing. Menem is accused of helping to cover up the tracks of local accomplices of the attackers.
In 2012, Argentina's President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced at the United Nations General Assembly that Iran and Argentina would meet to discuss Iranian involvement in the attacks. In 2014 she also criticized her country's Jewish leaders for not supporting Argentina's pact with Iran in order to jointly investigate the 1994 AMIA bombing attack:
My country is the only country of the Americas other than the United States of America that was the target of terrorist attacks: one in 1992 when the embassy of Israel was blown up, and the second in 1994 when the headquarters of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) was bombed. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of AMIA. I dare say before this Assembly—in the presence of some of the family members of the victims who have always been with us—that the Government headed by President Kirchner did the utmost and went the greatest lengths to uncover the real culprits, not only because it opened all my country's intelligence files and created a special prosecutor investigation unit, but also because, when in 2006 the justice system of my country accused Iranian citizens of involvement in the bombing of AMIA, I myself was the only President who dared to propose asking the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with and assist in the investigation. That request was made intermittently from 2007 to 2011, until the Islamic Republic of Iran finally agreed to a bilateral meeting, allowing it to be included in the agenda. That meeting led to the signing by both countries of a memorandum of understanding on legal cooperation that allowed for the Iranian citizens who had been accused, and who live in Tehran, to be deposed before the judge. But what happened when we signed that memorandum? It seemed as if all hell had broken out, both nationally and internationally. The Jewish associations that had sought our support for so many years and that had come here with us to ask for help turned against us, and when an agreement was finally reached on legal cooperation they accused us of complicity with the State of Iran. The same thing happened here in the United States. When the vulture funds lobbied before the United States Congress, they accused us of collaborating with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which at the time was known as the Terrorist State of Iran. They even lobbied on their websites, posting pictures of me on the Internet with former President Ahmadinejad as if we were business partners. Just this week, we learned that the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel, in this city, was the setting for a meeting between the Secretary of State of this country and his Iranian counterpart. We are not criticizing them. Quite the contrary, anything that represents dialogue and understanding seems very good to us. But we wish to ask those who have been accusing Iran of being a terrorist State.
Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi met on the sidelines of the UN in New York and promised to continue talks until the 1990s bombings are resolved.
Memorandum of understanding
Main article: Memorandum of understanding between Argentina and IranOn 27 January 2013, the Government of Argentina announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to establish a "truth commission" to investigate the AMIA bombing. According to President Kirchner, the commission was established to "analyze all the documentation presented to date by the judicial authorities of Argentina and Iran...and to give its vision and issue a report with recommendations about how the case should proceed within the legal and regulatory framework of both parties."
The news generated several criticisms with David Harris from the American Jewish Committee stating that "the idea of establishing a 'truth' commission on the AMIA tragedy that involves the Iranian regime would be like asking Nazi Germany to help establish the facts of Kristallnacht". The U.S. State Department's top official in charge of Latin American affairs, Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, said she is "skeptical that a just solution can be found" through the Argentine-Iran "truth-commission." The Jewish community in Argentina issued the statement "to ignore everything that Argentine justice has done and to replace it with a commission that, in the best of cases, will issue, without any defined deadline, a 'recommendation' to the parties constitutes, without doubt, a reversal in the common objective of obtaining justice."
On 28 February 2013, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved the memorandum of understanding with Iran by 131 votes in favor to 113 votes against. Israel expressed disappointment at this development. Guillermo Borger, president of the AMIA, criticized the legality of the memorandum and announced that he would take it to the Supreme Court of Argentina.
In May 2014, the memorandum was declared unconstitutional by the Court. The memorandum was voided when Mauricio Macri became president of Argentina, as he withdrew the appeal that the Kirchners government had filed.
Recent developments
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On 24 May 2013, it was reported that two of the Iranian AMIA bombing suspects accused of having planned the attack, Mohsen Rezai and Ali Akbar Velayati, were candidates for the Iranian presidential elections. In May 2013, Prosecutor Alberto Nisman published a 502-page indictment accusing Iran of establishing terrorist networks throughout Latin America – including in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname – dating back to the 1980s. Nisman also said new evidence underscored the responsibility of Mohsen Rabbani, the former Iranian cultural attache in Argentina, as mastermind of the AMIA bombing and "coordinator of the Iranian infiltration of South America, especially in Guyana", and said US court documents showed Islamist militant Abdul Kadir – who was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 for participating in a foiled plan to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York – was Rabbani's disciple.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that former Argentine interior minister Carlos Vladimir Corach was to be investigated for his ties to the bombing. He was alleged to have provided an illegal payment of $400,000 to Carlos Telleldin.
In an interview with Buenos Aires-based Jewish news agency (Agencia Judía de Noticias) on 2 January 2013, Itzhak Aviran, who was the Israeli ambassador to Argentina from 1993 to 2000, said most of the people behind the AMIA attack were eliminated by Israeli security agents operating abroad. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor called Aviran's declarations "complete nonsense".
In January 2015, the prosecutor in charge of the AMIA bombing investigation, Alberto Nisman, filed a 300-page complaint accusing President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman among other pro-government political figures of "covering up" Iranian citizens allegedly involved in the 1994 attack. Nisman said his accusations were based on phone taps on close political allies of Fernández, who he said conspired in a "sophisticated criminal plan" to negotiate with Rabbani himself, one of the main suspects of perpetrating the deadly bombing. According to the accusation, Iranian oil would be exchanged for Argentine grain, while Argentina would cancel an international Interpol arrest warrant against Rabbani and other senior Iranian officials. Nisman demanded a preventive embargo of 200 million pesos on Fernández de Kirchner and requested to question her, as well as Timerman, lawmaker of the pro-government organization "La Cámpora" Andrés Larroque, political leader Luis D'Elía, the leader of Quebracho Fernando Esteche, members of Secretariat of Intelligence, the leader of the Iranian community in Argentina Jorge "Yussuf" Khali, and ex attorney and judge Héctor Yrimia. On 18 January 2015, Nisman was found dead at his home in Buenos Aires, hours before he was due to explain his allegations at the Argentine parliament. A gun and spent shell casing were found next to the body, and a government official said the death was likely a suicide although others considered the death suspicious. The judge Ariel Lijo returned immediately from his vacations to work in the case, and to order the protection of Nisman's proofs. Nisman was replaced by prosecutor Alberto Gentili.
In the week following Nisman's death, and despite the fact that Nisman was going to implicate her among others had he lived, President Fernández de Kirchner declared her determination to replace the Argentine secret security service completely because it had been run beyond the state's control for too long.
In March 2015, three former Venezuelan government officials interviewed by Veja stated that Hugo Chávez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad allegedly met in 2007 to discuss payments to the Argentine government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in order for Iran to receive Argentine nuclear technology and the cessation of work between Argentina and Interpol involving Iranian individuals.
In March 2015, the Argentine government released a full-page advertisement in national newspapers accusing the late prosecutor Alberto Nisman of having attempted to destabilise the country. The advertisement also argued that the country should revive a controversial agreement with Iran, the country that is suspected of being responsible for the bombings. In addition to that, during a speech, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner accused Israel of being responsible for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina. This accusation was based on the allegation that Israel was only demanding justice for the AMIA bombing but not for the embassy attack. This was immediately refuted by the Israeli embassy, which reaffirmed that it does in fact demand justice for both cases.
In December 2015, Radio Mitre, an Argentinean station, released secret tapes of Héctor Timerman, in which he admitted Iran was responsible for the bombings concurrent to negotiating with Iran.
On 26 February 2016, the Argentine prosecutor Ricardo Sáenz stated Nisman's death "was a homicide indeed", claiming the case should be directed to the federal justice.
On 18 July 2019, at the request of Israel and the United States, Argentina officially declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization, freezing assets and expelling all members of the organization from the country, which is held responsible for the 1994 attack against AMIA.
In 2021, the Tribunal Federal Oral 8 declared the case against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner over an alleged cover-up of Iranian involvement in the bombing to be null and void; the court unanimously found no wrongdoing on Kirchner's part.
In 2023, on appeal, the Federal Chamber of Cassation revoked the dismissal that Cristina Fernández de Kirchner had benefited from and ordered her to be tried for the alleged cover-up for which Alberto Nisman accused her regarding the Argentina-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. The relatives of the victims of the AMIA attack had demanded that the oral trial against the former president be held. The reasons are that "the accused persons are attributed to the organization of a complex criminal plan to achieve or favor the impunity of the Iranian citizens suspected of having participated in the terrorist attack on the AMIA headquarters through two parallel channels, one formal - with the signing of the memorandum of understanding - and another informal, with unofficial negotiations."
On 11 April 2024, the Argentine Court of Cassation ruled based on confidential intelligence reports that Iran was responsible for planning the attack and Hezbollah for carrying it out. It stated that the attack was launched in retaliation for the Argentine government reneging on three nuclear cooperation agreements that would have provided Iran with nuclear technology, with the intent of putting pressure on Argentina to reverse its decision.
The ruling allows the families of victims to pursue Iran for compensation through the International Criminal Court by establishing that both the AMIA bombing and the 1992 Buenos Aires Israeli embassy bombing were crimes against humanity, and that states that finance and plan terror attacks can be held responsible for them even when the attack is carried out by a non-state actor. It also included a resolution calling on Argentina to lodge a formal complaint against Iran in international courts.
Following the ruling, Israel requested that Argentina designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Alleged assassinations of perpetrators
In January 2014, Yitzhak Aviran, who had been Israel's ambassador to Argentina at the time, claimed in an interview with a Spanish-language Jewish newspaper that most of the perpetrators of the attack had been tracked down and killed by Mossad, Israel's secret service, saying "a majority of those responsible for the act are no longer alive, and we took care of this on our own." Aviran's statements caused concern in Argentina, whose Foreign Minister, Héctor Timerman, accused Israel of having thus "prevented the gathering of new evidence that could shed light on the affair." Argentina also summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires to ask for explanations about Aviran's statements. For its part, the Israeli government, through its own Foreign Ministry, dismissed Aviran's claims as "complete nonsense."
Other opinions
According to a report in The Nation, the author claims that James Cheek, United States Ambassador to Argentina at the time of the bombing, told him, "To my knowledge, there was never any real evidence . They never came up with anything." The hottest lead in the case, he recalled, was an Iranian defector named Manoucher Moatamer, who "supposedly had all this information." But Moatamer turned out to be only a dissatisfied low-ranking official without the knowledge of government decision-making that he had claimed. "We finally decided that he wasn't credible," Cheek recalled.
Cultural depictions
In 2009, Marcos Carnevale directed Anita, a full-length film which portrays a young woman (Alejandra Manzo) with Down Syndrome who is lost in Buenos Aires after her mother is killed in the AMIA bombing.
See also
- Israeli embassy attack in Buenos Aires
- History of the Jews in Argentina
- Argentina–Israel relations
- Pasteur - AMIA (Buenos Aires Underground) – station commemorating the bombing
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- "El Gobierno incluye a Hezbollah en la lista de organizaciones terroristas". TN (in Spanish). 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- "Macri prepara un decreto para declarar a Hezbollah grupo terrorista". La Nacion (in Spanish). 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- "Tras la creación de un registro: La Unidad de Información Financiera ordenó congelar los activos de "la organización terrorista Hezbollah"". Clarin (in Spanish). 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- Cappiello, Hernán (8 October 2021). "Sobreseyeron a Cristina Kirchner por la firma del Pacto con Irán: los jueces entendieron que no hubo delito" [Case against Cristina Kirchner for Iran deal declared void, judges understood there was no crime]. La Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- Buchet, Juan (8 October 2021). "Argentina: Kirchner fue sobreseída de encubrimiento en el ataque a la AMIA" [Argentina: Case against Kirchner over AMIA attack declared null]. Radio France Internationale (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- "AMIA | Argentina confirma responsabilidad de Irán en el caso de la mutual judía: ¿por qué no ha ido a juicio el peor atentado en la historia del país?". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- Criales, José Pablo (19 September 2023). "La justicia argentina reabre dos causas contra Cristina Kirchner y la envía a juicio oral". El País Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- "Memorándum con Irán: Cristina Kirchner también irá a juicio por el encubrimiento del ataque a la AMIA". infobae (in European Spanish). 18 September 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- Salinas, Lucía (12 April 2024). "Los efectos de un fallo histórico por la AMIA: la Corte tiene en sus manos la última carta de Cristina para evitar el juicio por el Pacto con Irán". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- "Argentine court blames Iran and Hezbollah for deadly 1994 Jewish center bombing". Associated Press. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "AMIA bombing: Argentina court holds Iran, Hezbollah responsible | Buenos Aires Times". www.batimes.com.ar. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- Farda, RFE/RL's Radio. "Argentinian Court Finds Iran, Proxies To Blame For 1994 Jewish Center Bombing". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- "Argentina's highest criminal court blames Iran, Hezbollah for Jewish center bombing". NBC News. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- "Former Israeli envoy's diplomatic gaffe on Buenos Aires bombing". Haaretz. 4 January 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "Israel has killed perpetrators of 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, says ex-envoy". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
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- "Anita". IMDb. 27 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
External links
- Investigations Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, 25 October 2006, indictment for AMIA bombing, English translation
- Formula Denuncia, Ministerio Público de la Nación (Spanish) – Nisman's formal charge of impeding the investigation against the President and Foreign Minister, archive
- AMIA Case – Assessment of Argentine explosions, developments on AMIA dossier Iran's view from IRNA
- BBC: Pressure on Iran over Argentina blasts
- "Argentine bomb police 'to testify'"; 17 September 2003; BBC News
- "Flashback: Argentina bomb"; 25 August 2003; BBC News
- "Iran denies Argentina blast role"; 9 March 2003; BBC News
- Pictures from the tenth anniversary commemoration
- Memoria Activa, memorial site (in Spanish) (including official documents)
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- 1994 in international relations
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