US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt and the US State Department spokesman Ned Price paid tributes on Monday to the victims of the AMIA bombing (in Spanish: Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina) at the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The attack, allegedly orchestrated by Iranian government officials and Hezbollah terrorists, killed 85 people and injured over 300.
I am humbled to be in Argentina on the anniversary of the AMIA bombing, to commemorate this somber day of remembrance. The callous murder of civilians cannot stand, and the United States is committed to countering Hizballah, and Iran's, malign influence. pic.twitter.com/HW2mLRIdTR
— Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) July 18, 2022
“Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires,” Lipstadt, who is in Argentina on the anniversary of the event, said in a tweet. Lipstadt also reaffirmed the US support of Argentine Jews in “seeking accountability for the horrific actions of that day.”Both Lipstadt and Price acknowledged the attack as the largest antisemitic attack on Jews in more than half a century.
"Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Iranian-sponsored Hizballah attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires."
US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt
Lipstadt visited Argentina to attend the Latin American Forum to Combat Antisemitism, which was cohosted by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. She also paid a visit for the first time to the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires. She also met with officials from the Delegation of Argentine-Israeli Association (DAIA) to exchange ideas on combating antisemitism.
Pleased to participate in the Latin American Forum to Combat Antisemitism hosted by @CongresoJudio & @IsraelMFA in Buenos Aires.Antisemitism knows no borders, and this important regional gathering underscores the momentum we can build, working together, to combat this hatred. https://t.co/4mcvhT3fit pic.twitter.com/knrOngRggu
— Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) July 17, 2022
US State Department Spokesman's comments
Ned Price, in addition to the 1994 attack, also acknowledged the attack on a tour bus in Burgas, Bulgaria, which carried Israeli tourists. Five tourists from Israel and a Bulgarian bus driver were murdered in an antisemitic attack 10 years ago near the Burgas Airport, which was also carried out by Hezbollah. Forty-five Israeli youth were also injured in the incident.
Regarding the terror attack in Argentina, Price stated that “high-level Iranian government officials were directly implicated in the attack, and Hezbollah carried it out at the direction of the Iranian regime.”
Bulgarian courts convicted two Hezbollah operatives for the attack, while no one has been held accountable for the attack in Buenos Aires, Price continued. “We stand with those calling for justice and accountability for these cowardly attacks. The US remains committed to countering Hezbollah and Iran’s malign influence.”
"We stand with those calling for justice and accountability for these cowardly attacks. The US remains committed to countering Hizballah and Iran’s malign influence."
Ned Price
Price ended his statement by saying that the US is “committed to countering Hezbollah and Iran’s malign influence. The funding, training, weapons, and other support Iran provides Hezbollah support complex and heinous terrorist attacks like these.”
Israeli Embassy in Bulgaria
The Israeli Embassy in Bulgaria held on Monday a ceremony marking the ten years since the tragedy in 2012. The ceremony was held near the monument that was put up a year after the attack.
Among the attendees of the event was the victims’ families, as well as the Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Tourism Minister, the Mayor of Burgas and representatives of the Bulgarian Jewish community.