Argentina’s Jews balk at negotiations with Iran over ’94 bombing

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — Relatives of victims of the deadly bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires and Jewish leaders are urging their government not to negotiate with Iran.

Hector Timerman, Argentina’s Jewish foreign minister, met recently at UN headquarters in New York with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehi, about the July 1994 bombing on the Jewish community’s main building, and the two countries said they would continue negotiations through government officials in Geneva.

Iran is accused of directing the attack, which killed 85 and injured hundreds. The Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah allegedly carried out the attack.

“The only Iranian offering of cooperation that we accept is to submit the accused to the courts of our country, where they will enjoy guarantees and rights of defense,” declared a document signed Wednesday at the rebuilt AMIA headquarters by the relatives and Jewish leaders.

“As victims of the attack, we are not ready to endorse a new Iranian maneuver whose sole purpose is to ensure impunity for fugitives and to prevent justice.”

Among those signing were Guillermo Borger, president of AMIA; Aldo Donzis, president of the DAIA, the country’s umbrella Jewish community’s group; and 21 relatives of victims of the blast.