SWC Applauds Argentine President For Holding Iran Responsible for AMIA Terror Attack

July 18, 2024

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) applauded Argentina’s President Javier Milei for holding Iran responsible for the bombing of the Jewish Community Center on July 18, 1994, a terror attack that killed 85 and wounded 300+ innocent civilians in Buenos Aires—as well as holding Iran responsible for Hamas' October 7th attack upon Israel which killed more than 1,200 Israeli civilians and took more than 240 hostages.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the SWC’s Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action who attended AMIA memorial events noted that 30 years ago, Iran was isolated in the Middle East and only acted clandestinely in Latin America from the Triple Border between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.  Today, in 2024 it continues to destabilize the Middle East, posing an existential threat to Israel and Arab states in the Gulf. 

Rabbi Cooper said: “The Simon Wiesenthal Center endorses President Javier Milei's proposal to present a bill that will enable Argentina to try Iranian officials in absentia."

Ariel Gelbung the SWC Latin American Director and the lone Latin American delegate to the Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial Committee at IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance comprising 35 countries and experts), added, “The Iranian regime has threatened Argentina and warned Argentina officials against any move that would hold Iran culpable for the AMIA bombing. President Milei has made it clear that Argentina won't be bullied. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is therefore endorsing Argentina’s call to lead IHRA in 2026. World Jewry needs courageous and proactive countries and policies to help defeat the scourge of history’s oldest hate. Argentina has already proved to possess those qualities."

For further information, please email Ariel Gelblung, SWC’s Director of Latin America, at agelblung@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization that holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO)