President Alberto Fernández received the deputy prime minister and holder of the Israel Justice portfolio, Gideon Sa'ar, at the Olivos' residence, who is in Argentina to participate in the tributes paid during the 30 years of the attack on that country's Embassy in Buenos Aires. They spoke of strengthening the relationship between the two nations and agreed to continue their efforts to ensure that those responsible for the terrorist attack are brought to justice.
During the meeting, the Head of State assured that the national Government wants to “continue to strengthen our bond” with Israel, a possibility that is strengthened by the “great Jewish community” that the country has.
“With so many Jews in Argentina and so many Argentines in Israel, the potential among our countries is going to be greater,” Sa'ar reflected, noting that “we share the same values and the same desires.”
The representatives of both countries “agreed on the importance of continuing to make the necessary efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of the attack” perpetrated on 17 March 1992 and thus achieve justice for the victims, they stressed from the Presidency.
In this regard, Fernández stressed that Argentina has an “important historical position on human rights and condemns terrorism”.
In addition, at the conclave, the Israeli official thanked the president “that his first trip as president was to Israel” to participate in January in the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Fernández was accompanied at yesterday's meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Santiago Cafiero. The meeting was also attended by Israel's Ambassador to Argentina, Ronen Galit, and the Deputy Director-General for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Jonathan Peled.
Sa'ar arrived in the country with relatives of victims and survivors, to be present at the tribute events for the attack on the Israeli Embassy. Thirty years ago, a total of 29 people died and hundreds were injured in what was the first of two terrorist attacks committed in Argentina against Jewish interests and which, like the one perpetrated to AMIA in 1994, is attributed to Iran and the Lebanese Shiite party Hizbullah and continues to go unpunished.
At the event, held at the site of the attack, Sa'ar remarked that “Iran committed” this “terrible terrorist attack through its representatives Hizbullah” and asked: “How much longer will we have to wait for justice to be done?” for the acts committed.
During his official visit, the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister also participated in the Latin American Jewish Congress held in Buenos Aires and held meetings with other organizations of the local Jewish community. In addition, he met with several political leaders, including the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Sergio Massa.
“It was a clear indication that terrorism receives all the rejection of all political forces,” said Massa at the end of that meeting, which was held in the Hall of Honor of the Chamber of Deputies of the Nation.
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