Amia: 15th Anniversary

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ISRAEL ON THE OCCASION OF THE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF THE AMIA BOMBING (AMIA, 07/18/09, 15TH. ANNIVERSARY)

On July 18 we marked the 15th. Anniversary of the attack against the AMIA building, the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, in which 85 persons were killed and hundreds were wounded. In the 7 floors of the destroyed building organizations and institutions of Judaism in Argentina developed great activity.

This week I will visit Argentina and the new AMIA building to send a clear message of identification on the part of the Government and the entire people of Israel to the wonderful Jewish community of that country. This is a community that was able to recover from the destruction into which the murderous terrorism plunged it and rebuild a new community center in which the hustle and bustle of Jewish activity is heard.

As recorded, in the investigation of the attack to the AMIA site, published in the report of the Attorney General appointed by the Argentinean government, Iran is behind the attack.

This is a state that supports terror and its military arm – Hezbollah- which continues to spread destruction and terror in Israel and in the world.

The world is divided between the terrorists and their extremist followers and those who aspire to peace, freedom and democracy. The only way to preserve our world free of evil assassins will be a struggle in close cooperation with all democracies– a struggle with no concessions – and a boycott of the terrorists.

It is a difficult war in which we, in contrast to our enemies, place ourselves on the side of respect for human life. Terrorists, on the contrary, do not spare any resource, murder innocent civilians, women and children, and take advantage of the civilian population to serve as defense and shelter for their actions. We must all work together to achieve that the terrorists who on two occasions accomplished their designs in Buenos Aires will not remain unpunished.