A Glimmer of Hopehope the AMIAAMIA Bombing,Bombing, Five Five Years Years Later

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVESPERSPECTIVES 4545 e.-=.-.&.eL...... "......

A Glimmer of HopeHope The AMIAAMIA Bombing,Bombing, Five Five Years Years Later

Sergio Kiernan

THE AMERICAN JEWISHJEWISH COMMITTEECOMMITTEE The American JewishJewish CommitteeCommittee protects protects thethe rightsrights andfi.eedomsand freedoms of Jews the the world world over;over; combatscombats bigotrybigotry andand anti-Semitismanti-Semitism andand promotespromotes humanhuman rightsrights for for all; worksworks forfor thethe securitysecurity ofof IsraelIsrael andand deepened deepened understanding understanding betweenbetween AmericansAmericans and Israelis;Israelis; advocatesadvocates public policy positions rooted inin AmericanAmerican democratic democratic valuesvalues and and thethe perspectivesperspectives of thethe JewishJewish heritage;heritage; andand enhancesenhances the the creativecreative vitality vitality ofof the the Jewish Jewish people.people. Founded Founded in in 1906, 1906, ii it is is the the pioneer pioneer human-relationshuman-relations agency agency in in the the United United States. States. AA GlimmerGlimmer ofof HopeHope TheTheAMIA AMIA Bombing, Bombing, Five Five Years Years LaterLater SergioSergio KiernanKiernan isis anan ArgentineArgentine journalistjournalist specializingspecializing in in internationalinternational affairs.affairs. He He hashas workedworked forfor aa number number ofof major major magazinesmagazines andand newspapersnewspapers in in ArgentinaArgentina andand Brazil.Brazil. ForFor thethe American American JewishJewish CommitteeCommittee he he wrote wrote Atrocity Atrocity inin Buenos Buenos Aires: Aires: TheThe AMIAMA Bombing,Bombing, OneOne Year LaterLater (1995), WaitingforWaitingfor Justice:Justice: Two Two Years Years After Afer thethe AMIAMA BombingBombing (1996),(1996), JusticeJustice Delayed:Delayed: ThreeThree YearsYears AfterAfrer thethe AMIA MA BombingBombing (1997);(1997); andand StillStill NoNo Justice:Justice: FourFour Years Years After Afer the the AMIA MIA Bombing Bombing (1998).(1998). Foreword

A year ago—Julyago-July 1998—in 1998-in the foreword toto AJC's fourthfourth annual annual reportreport onon the status status ofof thethe investigationinvestigation ofof thethe ArvilAAMIA bombing in Buenos Aires,Aires, II expressed thethe hope that a fifth report would not be necessary,necessary, that those who blew up the mainmain center ofof ArgentineArgentine Jewish lifelife andand killedkilled 8686 peoplepeople would be apprehended,apprehended, convicted, convicted, andand sentencedsentenced beforebefore another another yearyear passed. Sadly, thatthat has not happened. NotNot onlyonly areare we still in thethe darkdark about responsibility for the AMIAAMIA bombing,bombing, but thethe destructiondestruction ofof thethe Is-Is- raeli embassy inin BuenosBuenos AiresAires twotwo yearsyears earlierearlier hashas notnot beenbeen solvedsolved either.either. Nevertheless, asas thethe title of this essayessay suggests,suggests, there may be "a"a glimmer of hope." TwentyTwenty people—fifteenpeople-fifteen policemen and five civilians—civilians- are due to standstand trialtrial forfor theirtheir involvementinvolvement inin thethe case.case. OnOn aa grimmer grimmer note, note, however, the internalinternal conflicts within Argentine Jewry over how toto ad-ad- dress the issue have been aggravated by the failure of Jewish-owned banksbanks in the country, leadingleading toto severesevere demoralizationdemoralization in in thethe community.community. The American Jewish Committee, with its long-standinglong-standing ties to thethe Jews of Argentina,Argentina, hashas beenbeen monitoringmonitoring eventsevents carefully.carefully. ImmediatelyImmediately after the AMIA bombing an AJC delegation flew to Buenos AiresAires toto expressexpress solidarity with the community, and we continuecontinue to maintainmaintain closeclose contactcontact with Argentine Jews. We have alsoalso metmet frequentlyfrequently withwith ArgentineArgentine offi- offi- cials to urge aggressiveaggressive prosecutionprosecution ofof thethe investigation.investigation. AndAnd onon eacheach an-anniversary of the tragedy, AJC has published reports by the noted Argentine journalist Sergio Sergio Kiernan.Kiernan. This is the latest latest report. Is itit tootoo muchmuch to hopehope onceonce againagain thatthat itit may be the last?last?

Jason F. Isaacson Director, Government andand International International AfSairsAffairs The American Jewish CommitteeCommittee

ii! A GLIMMER OF HOPEHOPE

The AMIA Bombing, Five YearsYears Later

OnOn JulyJuly 18, 18, 1994,1994, aa powerful powerfbl bombbomb destroyeddestroyed thethe mainmain buildingbuilding ofof thethe ArgentineArgentine IsraeliteIsraelite MutualMutual AidAid Association,Association, or or AIvHA, AMIA, inin downtowndowntown Bue- Bue- nosnos Aires.Aires. TheThe bombingbombing leftleft 8686 dead,dead, hundredshundreds wounded,wounded, andand aa city city block block lookinglooking like like aa warwar zone.zone. The The old old six-story six-story building building collapsed, collapsed, burying burying dozensdozens ofof people.people. TheThe survivorssurvivors hadhad toto climbclimb overover thethe rubblerubble andand escapeescape byby jumping toto nearbynearby terraces.terraces. Argentines,Argentines, whowho onlyonly twotwo yearsyears beforebefore hadhad witnessedwitnessed the destructiondestruction of the IsraeliIsraeli embassy in BuenosBuenos AiresAires inin aa ter-ter- roristrorist bombing,bombing, werewere horrified.horrified. TheThe 300,000300,000 ArgentineArgentine JewsJews werewere aghast:aghast: thethe bombingbombing waswas aa blowblow toto thethe heartheart ofof their their community.community. While confusionconfbsion reigned at thethe bombingbombing site,site, while while corpsescorpses werewere beingbeing dugdug outout andand aa specializedspecialized IsraeliIsraeli rescuerescue squadsquad was landinglanding inin Bue-Bue- nosnos Aires,Aires, thethe ArgentineArgentine governmentgovernment promisedpromised aa swift,swift, thorough thorough investi- investi- gation.gation. That That promisepromise was not not kept:kept: fivefive yearsyears afterafter thethe 1994 1994 bombing, bombing, therethere isis onlyonly aa glimmerglimmer ofof hopehope thatthat atat leastleast aa smallsmall partpart ofof thethe casecase willwill bebe solved.solved. FromFrom thethe veryvery beginning, beginning, ArgentinesArgentines suspected suspected thatthat the the terroriststerrorists responsibleresponsible forfor thethe massmass murdersmurders ofof theirtheir fellowfellow citizens citizens had had beenbeen aidedaided byby whatwhat becamebecame known known as as "the"the locallocal connection," connection," Argentines Argentines oror foreigners foreigners residingresiding inin ArgentinaArgentina whowho providedprovided thethe contacts,contacts, cars, cars, explosives,explosives, andand intelligenceintelligence to carrycarry out out the the attack.attack. MostMost peoplepeople alsoalso suspectedsuspected that that thethe membersmembers ofof "the"the local local connection"connection" were were oror had had beenbeen inin uniform: uniform: Argen- Argen- tinestines havehave an an extensive extensive and and sad sad experience experience with with government-sponsored government-sponsored right-wingright-wing death death squads. squads. DuringDuring thethe militarymilitary dictatorshipdictatorship that ruledruled thethe countrycountry fromfrom 19761976 toto 1983,1983, dozensdozens of specialspecial units units werewere charged charged withwith doing doing awayaway with with wholewhole sectorssectors of of thethe populationpopulation regardedregarded asas "subversives.""subversives." At At leastleast 11,000 11,000 people people dieddied inin thethe cleansingcleansing process,process, aa sizablesizable minorityminority ofof themthem Jews.Jews. AlongAlong withwith kidnappingkidnapping andand murderingmurdering forfor politicalpolitical reasons,reasons, thethe squads squads soonsoon learned learned thatthat theirtheir immunityimmunity fromfrom prosecutionprosecution extendedextended toto plainplain robbery:robbery: victims'victims' 2 #+A AGlimmer of Hope houses were ransacked, wealthy individuals kidnapped for ransom. AfterARer democracy waswas restoredrestored inin 1983, ArgentinesArgentines had had to to faceface thethe legacy of military rule: mutinous armed forces, security agencies and police forcesforces used to committingcommitting crimes. It took years to weed out the worst cases. The story of the AMIA bombing proves that the task is far from complete. The AMTAAMIA legallegal teamteam pointedpointed outout in an interview interview with thethe authorauthor what they consider the most important fact inin thethe five-year-longfive-year-long investiga-investigation: of the twentytwenty persons facing charges inin the case,case, nono lessless thanthan fifteenfifteen are policemen, including including high-ranking officers in the Buenos AiresAires Prov-Prov- ince police force,force, the largestlargest inin the country. OfficialsOfficials investigatinginvestigating thethe casecase make no secret of their suspicion that army personnel were involved in the preparation of the attack,attack, providingproviding explosivesexplosives and intelligence.intelligence. TheThe factfact that later this year oror earlyearly inin 2000,2000, thethe twentytwenty accusedaccused willwill faceface aa panelpanel ofof judges sustains sustains the hope thatthat more willwill bebe knownknown ofof atat leastleast oneone aspectaspect ofof the local connection: the role of the twenty Argentines who, apparently for money, helped the terroriststerrorists attackattack thethe ArgentineArgentine JewishJewish community community building. This hope sustains a divided, tired Jewish community that is undergoing the deepest political crisis in its history, a community that elected a new president after seeing its last, RubenRuben Beraja, leave the postpost inin publicpublic disgrace after the suspicious collapse of his bank.

The Quiet Year

There is littlelittle toto reportreport onon thethe AMIA AMIA investigationinvestigation sincesince thethe AmericanAmerican Jewish Committee's last report on the bombing.bombing. Critics of the investiga-investigation say that little has been done; supporters of the officialofficial inin charge ofof thethe case, Federal Judge Juan JoséJose Galeano,Galeano, saysay that hehe hashas workedworked quietlyquietly andand efficiently. Judge GaleanoGaleano nono longerlonger grantsgrants interviews.1 interviews.' A fewfew facts,facts, however,however, deserve deserve toto bebe highlighted. highlighted. First, Judge Judge Galeano accused Hezbollah ofof being responsibleresponsible for both both thethe AMIAAMIA bombing and the March 17, 1992,1992, bombing of the Israeli embassy in Bue- nos Aires. Second,Second, the judge interrogated interrogated two keykey foreignforeign witnesses,witnesses, the Iranian prostitute NasrimNasrim MokhtariMokhtari andand thethe BrazilianBrazilian taxitaxi boyboy and thief Wilson dos Santos. Third, those to be tried soon soon lostlost allall appealsappeals beforebefore other courts. Fourth, there willwill bebe aa reconstructionreconstruction ofof thethe bombing.bombing. On July 8, 1994,1994, a seedy character visited the ArgentineArgentine consulate inin Milan, Italy. He spoke a broken Spanish mixed with Portuguese and intro- duced himself as Wilson dos Santos. He had an urgent message: "In a few days' timetime therethere willwill bebe aa terribleterrible attackattack againstagainst aa JewishJewish targettarget inin BuenosBuenos The Quiet Year •+ 33

Aires." The consulate's personnelpersonnel clearly clearly did not not believebelieve him, him, filedfiled awayaway thethe warning,warning, and and promptly promptly forgotforgot aboutabout it. it. TenTen days days later,later, they they remem- remem- bered,bered, whenwhen thethe newsnews ofof thethe AMIAAMIA bombingbombing reachedreached Italy.Italy. TheThe ArgentineArgentine governmentgovernment askedasked the ItalianItalian policepolice to locatelocate dosdos Santos,Santos, butbut hehe hadhad van-van- ished.ished. AllAll thatthat couldcould bebe establishedestablished waswas thatthat hehe had had repeatedrepeated his his warningwarning toto IsraeliIsraeli andand BrazilianBrazilian diplomats,diplomats, whowho did did notnot actact on on it. it. ItIt tooktook fourfour yearsyears toto findfind dosdos Santos,Santos, livingliving quietlyquietly inin Brazil.Brazil. JudgeJudge GaleanoGaleano wanted to interrogateinterrogate him, but allall extraditionextradition appeals appeals werewere ig-ig- nored byby thethe BrazilianBrazilian judiciary.judiciary. Public Public pressurepressure inin BuenosBuenos AiresAires mountedmounted and PresidentPresident Carlos Carlos MenemMenem hadhad toto askask his his Brazilian Brazilian counterpart, counterpart, Fernando Henrique Cardoso,Cardoso, forfor anan answer.answer. LateLate lastlast year,year, bothboth countries,countries, partners in the MercosurMercosur commoncommon market, came close to aa diplomaticdiplomatic riftrift over the issue.issue. FranticFrantic behind-the-scenesbehind-the-scenes negotiations negotiations patched patched up up aa solu-solu- tion: dos SantosSantos wouldwould notnot bebe extraditedextradited toto Argentina,Argentina, butbut JudgeJudge Galeano Galeano would be ableable toto interrogateinterrogate himhim inin Brazil.Brazil. Late Late inin DecemberDecember 19981998 thethe judge andand his his teamteam wentwent toto BrazilBrazil and and metmet dosdos Santos. Santos. TheyThey camecame back back empty-handed: thethe Brazilian denieddenied hishis early story and claimed claimed that his his role was accidental andand thatthat hehe hadhad mademade upup hishis earlyearly statements.statements. When he hadhad originallyoriginally delivered delivered his warning, dos SantosSantos saidsaid thatthat he had got windwind ofof thethe comingcoming attackattack throughthrough hishis IranianIranian girlfriend,girlfriend, Nas- Nas- rim Mokhtari, whom he hadhad metmet inin BuenosBuenos Aires.Aires. DosDos SantosSantos saidsaid thatthat hehe and the IranianIranian hadhad separatedseparated while while livingliving inin Switzerland.Switzerland. ButBut beforebefore thethe separation, she had told himhim thatthat thethe IraniansIranians werewere preparingpreparing an an attackattack inin BuenosBuenos Aires.Aires. DosDos SantosSantos even even volunteeredvolunteered thethe informationinformation that that Mokhtari Mokhtari had taken partpart inin thethe bombingbombing ofof thethe IsraeliIsraeli embassy.embassy. WhenWhen faced faced byby Galeano and his team team inin Brazil,Brazil, dosdos SantosSantos backtracked:backtracked: hehe claimedclaimed hehe had made up the storystory inin alliancealliance with a journalist who wanted to writewrite aa book,book, paidpaid him him $1,050,$1,050, andand promisedpromised aa shareshare ofof thethe profits.profits. ItIt waswas just just badbad luckluck thatthat therethere waswas aa bombingbombing soso soonsoon afterward.afterward. SourcesSources close to thethe investigation investigation claim that Judge GaleanoGaleano did not believe dos Santos.Santos. TheThe investigatorsinvestigators work withwith twotwo hypotheses:hypotheses: thatthat thethe Brazilian isis aa pimppimp whowho befriendedbefriended thethe Iranian,Iranian, promisedpromised toto arrangearrange aa Ca-Ca- nadian visa forfor herher withwith thethe intentionintention ofof stealingstealing herher savings,savings, butbut gotgot coldcold feetfeet when when he he heardheard her her discussdiscuss aa bombing;bombing; oror thatthat dosdos SantosSantos hashas somesome connectionconnection with Brazilian intelligence,intelligence, which would explain the degreedegree ofof protection hehe enjoysenjoys fromfiom hishis government.government. Galeano had a secondsecond chance to test his hypotheses when, in anan un-un- expectedexpected coup,coup, InterpolInterpol delivereddelivered NasrimNasrim Mokhtari Mokhtari toto him.him. OnOn DecemberDecember 4,4, the IranianIranian was captured in Europe and sent to Buenos AiresAires to bebe inter-inter- rogatedrogated by thethe ArgentineArgentine SupremeSupreme CourtCourt inin connectionconnection withwith thethe bombingbombing ofof thethe IsraeliIsraeli embassy.2embassy.2 In aa barelybarely intelligible intelligible Spanish, Spanish, sheshe denieddenied any any 4 0+ A.1 Glimmer of Hope connection withwith the bombings, paintedpainted herselfherself asas a citizen persecuted by the Iranian and the Argentine governments, and claimed toto be justjust aa hair-hair- dresser cheated by a greedygreedy boyfriend.boyfriend. TheThe SupremeSupreme CourtCourt interrogators,interrogators, Gustavo Bossert and Esteban Canevari,Canevari, couldcould notnot findfind anyany legallegal reasonreason toto detain her: even her naturalizationnaturalization and citizenship papers were in perfectperfect order. She was released into Judge Galeano's custodycustody forfor furtherhrther interro-interro- gation. SoonSoon sheshe waswas releasedreleased toto findfind herher wayway backback toto Europe.3 ~uro~e.~ On FebruaryFebruary 23,23, 1999, Judge Galeano cleared Mokhtari of allall charges withwith a writ that contained aa surprise. OutOut ofof the blue and without giving much in the wayway ofof material material proof,proof, thethe judgejudge charged charged HezbollahHezbollah with being involved inin both bombings.bombings. "At"At the timetime ofof the the attacks, attacks, Hezbollah was clearly subordinated toto the decisions taken.bytaken by certain Ira-Ira- nian officials," the judge wrote. He diddid notnot elaborate,elaborate, andand hishis statementstatement surprised everybody:everybody: notnot eveneven thethe Supreme Court, afierafter seven years of investigating the Israeli embassy bombing, hadhad mademade chargescharges againstagainst Iran.Iran. By early May, sixsix suspectssuspects in in custodycustody in in connection connection with with the the AIv11A AMIA bombing had lost all their manymany appeals. The FederalFederal Chamber,Chamber, thethe super-super- vising and appeals court inin the case,case, hadhad rejectedrejected allall theirtheir argumentsarguments and and even ordered the rearrest of five policemen freefree onon bail,bail, raisingraising thethe totaltotal ofof persons charged with serious crimes to eleven. eleven. The The Chamber Chamber discreetlydiscreetly criticized Galeano andand ordered himhim toto carry out aa reconstructionreconstruction of thethe bombing. On June 23, the judge officiallyofficially orderedordered the the reconstruction reconstruction to take place, under the supervisionsupervision of Federal Police CommissarCommissar JorgeJorge Pala-Pala- cios, chief of thethe antiterrorism antiterrorism unit. The The reconstruction, reconstruction, which involvesinvolves citing dozens of witnesses andand stationingstationing everyevery vehiclevehicle andand personperson in their locations atat thethe time of thethe attack, will taketake place later thisthis month or early in August.

Preparing for the Trial

Luis Dobnieswky showsshows inin his face how longlong andand hardhard thethe investigationinvestigation has been. A well known and successful attorney, he has been volunteering time and resources (from clerks to a high-techhigh-tech photocopier he leased) to represent AMIA in the investigation,investigation, free of charge.charge. "It's beenbeen complex,complex, very, very complex," he says.says. "The investigationinvestigation followedfollowed the usual path:path: leads were examined, examined, some some were discarded,discarded, othersothers followed.followed. TheThe investi-investigating judge followed 160160 leadsleads in the past fivefive years."years." In the Argentine judiciaryjudiciary system, a judgejudge and not a prosecutor is in charge of establishing the basic facts of a case, pursuing leads and arrest- PreparingPreparingfor for thethe TrialTrial #+ 55 inging suspects.suspects. Unless Unless thethe casecase isis trulytruly smallsmall andand simple,simple, or or involves involves a a single single individual,individual, the investigatinginvestigating judgejudge sends it toto anotheranother tribunaltribunal forfor trial, trial, effectivelyeffectively actingacting asas a a prosecutor. prosecutor. The The AIvIIA AMIA case willwill bebe triedtried byby aa three-three- judgejudge panelpanel laterlater thisthis yearyear oror early early next next year. year. Dobniewsky Dobniewsky explainsexplains thatthat "Judge"Judge Juan Juan JoséJose GaleanoGaleano hashas beenbeen ableable toto gather gather proof proof involving involving fivefive leads,leads, butbut hashas hardhard proofproof ofof onlyonly one:one: thatthat onon JulyJuly 10,10, 1994,1994, eighteight days days priorprior toto the the bombing,bombing, CarlosCarlos TelleldIn Telleldin delivered the van thatthat waswas laterlater usedused inin thethe attackattack toto aa group group of of Buenos Buenos Aires Aires police police officers.officers. This, This, thethe judgejudge hashas provedproved beyondbeyond anyany reasonablereasonable doubt."doubt." InIn aa casecase thatthat hashas alreadyalready gatheredgathered several several scoresscores ofof thousandsthousands ofof sheetssheets ofof legallegal writs,writs, fourfour factsfacts are are considered considered "proved"proved beyondbeyond reasonablereasonable doubt"doubt" andand willwill formform thethe core core of of the the prosecution prosecution against against thethe twenty twenty ac-accused:cused: ** AA carcar bombbomb waswas usedused inin thethe attack. attack. ** TheThe specificspecific carcar used,used, aa white white RenaultRenault TraficTrafic van,van, hashas beenbeen posi-posi- tivelytively identified.identified. ** PartsParts ofof thethe vanvan actuallyactually killedkilled peoplepeople inin thethe street,street, turning turning it it intointo a a murdermurder weapon. weapon. ** TelleldInTelleldin soldsold thethe vanvan toto aa group group of of police police officers. officers. ForensicForensic studiesstudies establishedestablished the firstfirst threethree items:items: overover 6060 percentpercent ofof thethe van'svan's structure structure was was recovered recovered and and piecedpieced together,together, plus plus severalseveral engine engine parts;parts; engine-blockengine-block numbersnumbers allowed allowed aa positivepositive identificationidentification ofof thethe spe-spe- cificcific van;van; piecespieces ofof thethe vanvan werewere recoveredrecovered fromfrom bodiesbodies of of victimsvictims killedkilled outsideoutside thethe building.building. TheThe officialofficial causecause ofof death death for for several several victims victims waswas deemeddeemed toto bebe thethe wounds wounds sustained sustained from from flying flying debris debris from from the the van. van. "We"We areare going going toto bring bring toto trialtrial thisthis veryvery small small andand partial partial aspectaspect ofof thethe case,"case," sayssays Dobniewsky. Dobniewsky. "It"It isis smallsmall butbut enormously enormously importantimportant to to breakbreak thethe vowvow ofof silencesilence aroundaround thethe case.case. InIn 19971997 we we denounced denounced thethe ob-ob- structionsstructions thethe investigationinvestigation waswas suffering:suffering: evidenceevidence wentwent missing, missing, impor- impor- tanttant probesprobes werewere badlybadlv carriedcarried out,out, witnesses witnesses lied. lied. Back Back in in 1994, 1994, right right af- af- terter thethe bombing bombing and and thethe very very first first arrests, arrests, Buenos Buenos Aires Aires Province Province police police officerofficer Juan Juan JoséJose Ribelli, Ribelli, who who is is a a prime prime suspect suspect in in the thecase, case, paid paid $100,000$100,000 toto aa witness witness toto say say that that he, he, and and not not Ribelli, Ribelli, had had taken taken possession possession of of the the van.van. Luckily, Luckily, the the false false witness witness cracked cracked under under examination examination and and confessed. confessed. TheThe pointpoint isis thatthat suspectssuspects underunder arrestarrest don'tdon't speak,speak, they they believebelieve that that if if theythey sitsit tighttight theirtheir fellowfellow policemenpolicemen willwill somehowsomehow help help them."them." TheThe arrestarrest of of Ribelli Ribelli andand hishis fellow fellow officers officers two two years years ago ago triggered triggered thethe worstworst institutionalinstitutional crisiscrisis thethe BuenosBuenos AiresAires ProvinceProvince policepolice forceforce hadhad everever seen. seen. Ribelli Ribelli waswas exposed exposed as as the the cashier cashier for for an an extensive extensive organization organization ofof crookedcrooked policemen. policemen. OfficersOfficers andand men men alikealike regularly regularly extortedextorted money money fromfrom businesses,businesses, legitimate legitimate or or illegal. illegal. Even Even Argentines, Argentines, who who are are perfectly perfectly 6 #A@ A Glimmer Glimmer of of HopeHope usedused toto corruptedcorrupted policemen,policemen, were surprised byby the sheer scale of the the racket:racket: millionsmillions of dollars were circulated fromfrom thethe bottom toto thethe top of of thethe province'sprovince's policepolice force.force. Governor Governor Eduardo Eduardo Duhalde,Duhalde, aa presidential presidential hopeful,hopeful, fired halfhalf thethe area area chiefs, chiefs, completely completely revampedrevamped thethe force,force, andand gavegave ampleample powerspowers to hishis justice minister, a wellwell knownknown enemy of corrup-corruption.tion. HundredsHundreds ofof policepolice werewere dismissed. dismissed. "For thatthat alone,alone, eveneven ifif wewe cannotcannot establishestablish anyany connectionconnection withwith thethe bombingbombing proper, they risk terms of up to fifteenfifteen years in jail," sayssays Dob-Dob- niewsky. "We hope to establish establish that fivefive ofof themthem actuallyactually knew knew ofof thethe bombing and willingly collaboratedcollaborated forfor aa fee.fee. If we succeed,succeed, they'll re-re- ceive lifelife terms."terms." JudgeJudge JuanJuan JoséJose GaleanoGaleano hashas alreadyalready takentaken thethe firstfirst stepssteps to to bringbring thethe case to trial.trial. TwentyTwenty peoplepeople willwill faceface charges,charges, fifteenfifteen policemenpolicemen and fivefive civilians. Eleven are charged with seriousserious crimescrimes andand areare inin jailjail awaitingawaiting trial. Of the twenty to bebe tried,tried, fivefive (including(including TelleldIn,Telleldin, Ribelli, and three other policemen)policemen) are consideredconsidered "necessary"necessary partiesparties toto thethe bombing"bombing" andand faceface chargescharges ofof murder,murder, conspiracy,conspiracy, andand corruption.corruption. TheThe otherother fifteenfifteen faceface chargescharges ofof corruption,corruption, racketeering,racketeering, and and conspiracy.conspiracy. In ourour interview,interview, Dobniewsky triedtried hard to make one point as clearclear as possible:possible: that trying the "small, very small" part of the case did notnot mean that thethe investigationinvestigation would be closed.closed. "Even"Even if if JudgeJudge GaleanoGaleano wanted to closeclose the case,case, hehe cannotcannot dodo thatthat underunder thethe law,"law," DobniewskyDobniewsky says.says. "He is is thethe investigatinginvestigating magistrate;magistrate; he hashas toto keepkeep onon investigatinginvestigating and sending peoplepeople to bebe tried byby otherother judges." Dobniewsky's hopehope isis that thethe trialtrial ofof thethe twentytwenty accomplicesaccomplices ofof thethe terrorists will enableenable GaleanoGaleano to advanceadvance thethe investigation. investigation. HeHe identifies identifies four areas ofof investigationinvestigation thatthat couldcould bebe illuminatedilluminated byby thethe trial:trial: The military:military: Judge Galeano and his investigators areare stronglystrongly suspi-suspicious of a group ofof retired and active armyarmy officersofficers andand NCOs withwith strongstrong far-right connections thatthat couldcould havehave sold the explosivesexplosives used in thethe bombing. The accomplices: TelleldinTelleldIn was was notnot alone in hishis dealingsdealings withwith thethe corrupted policemen. HisHis wife, brothers, and a few of his friends are sus-suspected of being accomplices in the sale of the van and of knowing what itit was goinggoing toto bebe usedused for.for. Dos SantosSantos and Mokhlari:Mokhtari: DobniewskyDobniewsky thinks that they knowknow who who actuallyactually ordered and paid for the bombing.bombing. He hopeshopes toto havehave themthem rear-rear- rested and confronted with newnew evidenceevidence afterafter thethe trial.trial. Fundamentalists in Argentina: Dobniewsky thinksthinks thatthat there isis "a"a network of fundamentalistfundamentalist cells active inin thethe ArgentineArgentine ArabArab community.community. ,lA CommunityCommunity in Crisis ## 7

Monser Rabbani,Rabbani, aa formerformer IranianIranian culturalcultural attachéattache whowho waswas expelledexpelled fromfrom thethe country,country, hadhad beenbeen inin chargecharge ofof thethe ShiiteShiite mosquesmosques andand ofof recruiting;recruiting; hehe waswas eveneven filmedfilmed byby intelligenceintelligence agentsagents shoppingshopping forfor aa van."van." InvestigatorsInvestigators have noticed noticed that ShiiteShiite IslamIslam isis becomingbecoming more more popular popular among, of allall people,people, BuenosBuenos Aires Aires ProvinceProvince policemen.4 policemen.4 Dobniewsky'sDobniewsky's hopeshopes areare not not shared shared byby everybody.everybody. Diana Diana Malamud, Malamud, aa founderfounder ofof thethe groupgroup Memoria Memoria ActivaActiva whowho lostlost herher architectarchitect husbandhusband inin thethe bombing,bombing, isis farfar lessless enthusiasticenthusiastic about the coming trial. "There's beenbeen veryvery littlelittle progressprogress inin thethe investigation,"investigation," sheshe says.says. "And"And nonenone sincesince 1996,1996, whenwhen Ribelli was arrested.arrested. I don'tdon't thinkthink thethe trialtrial will will solvesolve anything.anything. OurOur onlyonly hopehope isis that therethere isis aa newnew breakthrough,breakthrough, aa newnew lead."lead." InIn fact,fact, MalamudMalamud thinksthinks thethe trialtrial willwill hurthurt thethe investigation. investigation. "The"The AMIA case willwill effectivelyeffectively die withwith the trial.trial. OfOf course,course, itit willwill bebe legallylegally and formallyformally stillstill alive,alive, butbut itit willwill bebe deaddead inin fact.fact. Sure,Sure, they will throw the book atat TelleldIn,Telleldin, Ribelli, and a fewfew more,more, allall smallsmall fry;fry; soso what?what? WeWe willwill notnot knowknow anythinganything ofof realreal importanceimportance andand afterafter thethe anticlimaxanticlimax ofof aa trial,trial, therethere willwill be be no no amountamount ofof pressure pressure that that willwill movemove this this case. case. Remember, Remember, Judge GaleanoGaleano worksworks asas slowlyslowly asas publicpublic opinionopinion will letlet him.him. HeHe tooktook soso longlong toto dodo anythinganything against against Telleldin Telleldin and Ribelli that theythey were were onon thethe brinkbrink ofof beingbeing released;released; we, thethe relativesrelatives of the dead,dead, hadhad toto appealappeal toto thethe FederalFederal Chamber.Chamber. WeWe askedasked himhim forfor hundredshundreds ofof procedures,procedures, hehe ignoredignored mostmost ofof ourour pleas.pleas. ForFor instance, instance, hehe nevernever raided raided thethe precincts precincts in in thethe ArvilA AMIA neighborhood,neighborhood, althoughalthough thethe interrogationsinterrogations ofof policemenpolicemen andand officersofficers showshow contradictions.contradictions. And he did not not wantwant toto carrycarry out out aa reconstruction reconsttuction ofof thethe bombing:bombing: wewe hadhad toto forceforce himhim toto dodo soso byby appealingappealing toto thethe Chamber. Chamber. I I am am veryvery pessimistic."pessimistic." uniirisis TheThe AMIAAMIA bombingbombing createdcreated aa deepdeep crisis crisis inin thethe ArgentineArgentine Jewish Jewish com- com- munity,munity, both political political and financial.financial. In the last last year, year, thethe crisis crisis reachedreached aa climaxclimax andand becamebecame public public afterafter anan unexpectedunexpected incident:incident: thethe twotwo largestlargest Jewish-ownedJewish-owned banks inin ArgentinaArgentina collapsed collapsed amidamid allegationsallegations ofof wrong-wrong- doingdoing andand anti-Semitism.anti-Semitism. PriorPrior to thethe 19941994 bombing, bombing, thethe institutionalinstitutional lifelife ofof JewsJews inin ArgentinaArgentina waswas littlelittle knownknown outsideoutside thethe communitycommunity itselfitself. The The leaders leaders of of AMIA AMIA were were strangersstrangers toto thethe publicpublic atat largelarge andand thethe leadersleaders ofof thethe JewishJewish umbrellaumbrella or-or- ganizationganization DMADAIA were were known known only only to to those those who who closely closely followed followed political political news.news. AsAs anan organizedorganized community,community, Jews Jews mademade newsnews only only sporadically, sporadically, 8 e@ A A GlimmerGlimmer ofof Hope when they protested an actact ofof anti-Semitismanti-Semitism oror bigotry.bigotry. PerfectlyPerfectly inte- inte- grated into local politics, Jews considered community life a privateprivate affair.affair. The political organization, activity,activity, andand influence of the American Jewish community were admired but not taken as a model. The bombing changed that overnight. Suddenly,Suddenly, thethe JewishJewish commu-community was very much in the limelight, and its leadersleaders became public figures.figures. The DAIADMA president,president, RubenRuben Beraja, was quoted dailydaily inin the press;press; hishis faceface became a familiar feature on television. At the time,time, nobody nobody seemed seemed toto notice that, unlike its American counterpart, the Argentine community had little real political skills, few professional staff, and precious little experience in the political arena. Soon, attentionattention waswas focusedfocused solelysolely onon Beraja,Beraja, a quiet-spoken, religiously observant banker.banker. As the AIv11AAMIA case case becamebecame more more andand more political, and asas timetime went by withwith nono resultsresults fromfrom thethe investigation, investigation, the the Jewish Jewish community community started toto polarize. The argument over the pace ofof thethe investigation investigation be-became an argument over the relationship of the ArgentineArgentine Jewish institu- institu- tions with the government. government. Two camps emerged: Beraja and the estab-estab- lished leadership, called "appeasers" by their opposition; opposition; and grassrootsgrassroots organizations suchsuch asas Memoria Activa, aa group of relatives of the victims and people concerned with the case that included Jews and Gentiles alike,alike, branded "troublemakers" byby the leadership.leadership. MemoriaMemoria Activa,Activa, gatheringgathering every Monday morning atat thethe park across the street street fromfrom the ArgentineArgentine Supreme Court, soon gained a very high profile and great media exposure. The debate became bitter. Those opposed toto Beraja openly called him aa "crony" of President Carlos MenemMenem andand chargedcharged himhim withwith beingbeing "first"first a banker, then a Jew." The yearly ceremoniesceremonies commemoratingcommemorating the bombingbombing became the scene of mutual recriminations. On July 18,18, 1997,1997, the riftriR be-became evident when Laura Ginsberg, representing Memoria Activa, spokespoke scathingly againstagainst the government from the same daisdais wherewhere BerajaBeraja andand Interior Minister Carlos Corach (who is Jewish) stood.stood. Challenged,Challenged, BerajaBeraja had to pocket his prepared speech and improvise a tough condemnation of Iran. He was booed andand hissed.hissed. ThereThere waswas nono sharedshared ceremonyceremony inin 1998.1998. Memoria Activa was not allowed to attend the "official" ceremonyceremony organ-organ- ized by DNADMA and and AMIA,AMIA. The second crisis the divideddivided communitycommunity hadhad toto withstandwithstand came came from an unexpectedunexpected quarter: Mexico. Mexico's economic economic problemsproblems mademade life hard for ArgentineArgentine banks. In panic over the collapsecollapse of thethe MexicanMexican peso, international investors quickly abandoned emerging markets in Latin America. Argentina was not spared andand althoughalthough thethe governmentgovernment handledhandled the crisiscrisis relatively well and very decisively, it showedshowed no intentionintention of going out of its its wayway toto savesave small small banks:banks: itit waswas survivalsurvival ofof thethe fittest. fittest. A CommunityCommuni@ inin CrisisCrisis #+ 9

Many banks closed andand werewere mergedmerged withwith biggerbigger ones;ones; othersothers werewere soldsold piecemeal. When, last year, Brazil devalued its currency, most banks were strong enough to survivesurvive the renewed crisis of confidence. But some of the smaller banks collapsed, among them the Patricios Bank, ownedowned by thethe Spolskys, aa Jewish family. In June 1998, 1998, the PatriciosPatricios was was absorbed absorbed byby Ruben Beraja's muchmuch largerlarger BancoBanco Mayo.5~a~o.~ TheThe resultresult waswas anan exponentialexponential growth for the Mayo, whichwhich totaled $1.1 billion in assets.assets. BerajaBeraja quietlyquietly assured the JewishJewish community community that allall thethe financial financial support support previously previously given by the Patricios would continue. But his Banco Mayo also collapsed in October 1998 1998 andand waswas quicklyquickly soldsold toto aa consortiumconsortium ledled byby Citibank.Citibank. In DecemberDecember 1998, 1998, a smallersmaller Jewish-ownedJewish-owned bank, the Banco Banco Is-Is- raelita de Cordoba,Córdoba, folded after a run by its depositors promptedprompted by a storystory in the newspaper LaLa Nacidn.Nación. TheThe bankbank waswas sold toto a group of sixsix otherother banks. The small, small, 10,000-strong 10,000-strong Jewish community inin the province of CordobaCórdoba was faced with the uncomfortableuncomfortable prospect of havinghaving toto return, return, and quickly, soft loans totaling $1.5 million to the bank's newnew owners.owners. Suddenly, therethere were nono moremore Jewish-owned Jewish-owned banks.6banks.6 The conse- conse- quences were soon felt. The Patricios and the Mayo had enjoyed the cus-custom of of JewsJews andand supportedsupported thethe communitycommunity inin twotwo mainmain ways:ways: thethe banksbanks donated money for cultural and social activities, and theythey providedprovided finan-financial services and loans on very very advantageousadvantageous terms. The extensive extensive network of schools, clubs, and social institutions depended heavily on the two major Jewish banks for theirtheir daily operationsoperations andand payrolls.payrolls. TheThe collapsecollapse ofof the Mayo put several schools, the IsraeliteIsraelite Hospital, an old-age home, the Aleph cable station, the FM Jai radio station,station, thethe JerusalemJerusalem school,school, andand thethe brand-new Bar-Ilan University on the brink. The collapsecollapse of thethe bankbank alsoalso meant the end of Beraja's rolerole asas politicalpolitical leaderleader ofof thethe JewishJewish community.community. After three termsterms asas president ofof DAIA,DMA, the banker stepped down and out of the scene.7scene.' An article published by the Jerusalem Letter8~etter* on aa JewishJewish AgencyAgency fact-finding trip to Argentina gives a panorama of the material situation of the ArgentineArgentine Jewish community and hints at some of the true reasons for its dependencydependency on Jewish-owned banks. Written by IlanIlan Rubin,Rubin, secretarysecretary general of the Jewish Jewish Agency,Agency, the article reports on the findings findings of anan Agency tasktask force that visited Argentina in November and December ofof 1998. According toto Rubin, "Their {the [the banks']banks7] contribution contribution hadhad partiallypartially concealed the reality of aa significantsignificant decreasedecrease inin individual/localindividual/local philan-philanthropy inin Argentina.Argentina. Indeed,Indeed, there areare aa numbernumber of of veryvery wealthy wealthy JewsJews inin Argentina who do not contributecontribute at allall to thethe JewishJewish communitycommunity andand whowho are totally alienated from Judaism and Israel. The closure closure of these these twotwo banks inin thethe wake wake ofof aa general general countrywidecountrywide recessionrecession meantmeant thethe abrupt abrupt 10JO #+ A Glimmer of Hope end of theirtheir supportsupport andand hashas exposedexposed thethe declinedecline inin locallocal philanthropy."philanthropy." The report rightly points out the effects of the deepdeep recessionrecession Argentina isis currently undergoing on anan overwhelminglyoverwhelmingly middle-classmiddle-class community.community. "At"At present, over 3535 percent of the 40,000 pupils in the Jewish day schools are at least least partiallypartially subsidized.subsidized. TheThe situationsituation is particularlyparticularly difficultdifficult forfor smaller schools and schools located outside the Buenos Aires area." Rubin highlights thethe heavy financial burdenburden ofof providing securitysecurity forfor dozensdozens ofof community buildings. Rubin's conclusionconclusion isis that, howeverhowever difficultdifficult the situation situation mustmust seem, and despite the complaints thethe tasktask forceforce heard, "there"there is no sign of a deterioration of the political situation or of instabilityinstability that couldcould bringbring immediate danger toto thethe Jews." Rubin notesnotes thatthat in spite ofof the dark pic- ture painted by people he spokespoke to, therethere isis nono mass mass emigrationemigration of JewsJews and that aliyah actually declined in 1998.1998. The author frankly admits that many Argentines expected thethe Jewish Agency to simplysimply "bring money"money" and solve the problems. Rubin claims that "any attempt,attempt, even partial, to bail out thethe community community byby externalexternal sourcessources wouldwould simplysimply impedeimpede the the healthy and inevitable process of matching expenditures to income." With over $200 million a year in total outlay, the Argentine Jewish community shows signs of vitality despite the failurefailure ofof thethe PatriciosPatricios andand the Mayo. "The problem here is political: political: a veryvery fewfew getget involved,involved, even even fewer give money or time. Maybe thethe problem isis thatthat wewe are so well inte- grated that we don't carecare muchmuch anymore,"anymore," sayssays anan ArgentineArgentine Jew activeactive inin community circ~es.~circles.9Any Any informal informal poll poil wouldwould findfind thatthat opinion toto bebe popular. A second element in the representation crisis of the community is its peculiar electoral system. DAIA standsstands forfor DelegationDelegation ofof Argentine-Argentine- Israelite Associations, aa name thatthat implies its functionhnction as an umbrella organization. Originally foundedfounded toto provideprovide aa unified voice for all Jewish Jewish groups in the country country andand toto fightfight against against NazismNazism andand anti-Semitism, anti-Semitism, it it still retains a voting system in which a smallsmall inlandinland communitycommunity with aa fewfew hundred members has the same weight at anan institutioninstitution inin BuenosBuenos AiresAires with thousands of members. Members never get to vote for DAJA'sDAIA's presi-president, who is elected by aa councilcouncil ofof presidentspresidents ofof lesserlesser institutions.institutions. TheThe system is custom-made custom-made for self-perpetuation,self-perpetuation, andand criticscritics chargecharge thatthat a banker can easilyeasily get thethe votesvotes ofof impoverishedimpoverished communitiescommunities in thethe prov-prov- inces. On January 12, 1999,1999, DAIA's thenthen secretary,secretary, RogelioRogelio Cichowolsky,Cichowolsky, a lawyer and close associate of Ruben Beraja, succeededsucceeded himhim asas presidentpresident of DAIA.DMA. HisHis election election waswas farfar fromfiom quiet:quiet: thosethose presentpresent at at thethe council's council's meeting still remember the shoutingshouting matches.matches. Far moremore telling, forfor thethe firstfirst A Symbol #4 ii11 time inin thethe historyhistory ofof thethe nearlynearly one-hundred-year-oldone-hundred-year-old institution,institution, severalseveral Jewish associations associations simply simply refusedrefbsed toto attendattend meetingsmeetings anymore—among anymore--among them,them, thethe HebraicaHebraica (the(the largestlargest JewishJewish socialsocial and sportssports clubclub inin thethe coun-country),try), thethe ArgentineArgentine branch branch of of the the IsraeliIsraeli LaborLabor Party, Party, thethe ConvergenciaConvergencia group, andand thethe CommunityCommunity Emanu-El.Emanu-El. CichowoiskyCichowolsky waswas reducedreduced toto takingtaking officeofice inin aa halfhalf emptyempty room.room. TheThe oppositionopposition chargedcharged thethe newnew presidentpresident withwith beingbeing "Beraja"Beraja underunder a differentdifferent name."name." "What"What wewe neededneeded waswas somebodysomebody whowho couldcould unite,unite, notnot divide, the community.community. Somebody whowho would steer DAIADMA away fromfrom the banks andand particularlyparticularly away from from thethe government," government," saidsaid an an oppositionopposition figure. To To Cichowoisky'sCichowolsky's supporters,supporters, thethe chargescharges againstagainst himhim areare unfair. unfair. Although they share in the criticismcriticism of Beraja's presidency,presidency, somesome spokes-spokes- men forfor majormajor organizationsorganizations seesee CichowolskyCichowolsky asas "experienced,"experienced, able,able, andand honest." TheThe newnew president tried to calmcalm the debatedebate andand askedasked forfor thethe levellevel "of verbal verbal violence and aggression" toto be curbed. He promised to start a series of grassroots meetingsmeetings toto hearhear hishis constituency.constituency. Many Jews inin ArgentinaArgentina are trulytruly shocked shocked byby thisthis factiousness factiousness andand particularly by seeing itit reportedreported inin detaildetail byby thethe media.media.''10 ToTo anybody fa-familiar with thethe community, community, the anger anger against against RubenRuben BerajaBeraja isis trulytruly shocking, as are the depthsdepths ofof pessimism.pessimism. "We never, never, everever learn,"learn," sayssays aa middle-aged professional activeactive in community circles.circles. "We've beenbeen talk-talk- inging foreverforever aboutabout changingchanging our internalinternal electoral system, but wewe nevernever dodo it. We keepkeep electingelecting bankersbankers oror businessmenbusinessmen whowho gogo bustbust amidamid allegationsallegations and charges. It's embarrassing.embarrassing. TheThe resultresult isis thatthat thethe youngeryounger keepkeep clearclear ofof community affairs, they don't getget involved." involved." OthersOthers pointpoint toto the the curious curious passivity that overcame the communitycommunity after Beraja steppedstepped down.down.

A Symbol

OnOn Monday,Monday, MayMay 26,26, 1999,1999, the the AMIAAMIA inauguratedinaugurated itsits new new headquarters. headquarters. TheThe ultramodern, ultramodern, $8-million$8-million buildingbuilding stands stands at at thethe exactexact site of the the bombing, on PasteurPasteur Street.Street. It's aa cream-colored,cream-colored, eight-storyeight-story mass of con- cretecrete withwith smallsmall windows,windows, protectedprotected by aa ten-foot-highten-foot-high wall and and an an arrayarray ofof high-techhigh-tech security security measures. At 9:53, thethe time time of of the the bombing, bombing, the the ceremonyceremony started with the long,long, piercingpiercing wail ofof sirens.sirens. TheThe namesnames ofof thethe victims were read, aa rabbirabbi saidsaid Kaddish,Kaddish, andand therethere were were speeches speeches byby AMJA'sAMIA's president,president, Oscar Oscar Hansman, Hansman, IsraeliIsraeli ambassadorambassador ItzhakItzhak Aviran, Aviran, IsraeliIsraeli attorneyattorney generalgeneral ElyakimElyakim RubinsteinRubinstein andand UniversityUniversity ofof BuenosBuenos Ai-Ai- resres LawLaw School School deandean AndresAndres D'Alessio.D'Alessio. WithWith bitterbitter memories memories ofof having having itsits officialsofficials andand eveneven ministersministers booed,booed, thethe governmentgovernment sent sent onlyonly oneone repre- repre- 12 •+A A Glimmer Glimmer ofofHope Hope

sentative, the head of the antidiscriminationantidiscrimination office.office. AA fewfew hundredhundred peoplepeople stood patiently in the street,street, listening to the speechesspeeches inin silence.silence. TheThe pray-pray- ers and the sirenssirens broughtbrought tears to somesome eyes,eyes, butbut the the moodmood waswas sober.sober. After the ceremony,ceremony, people passed through metal detectors toto visit the building. "Today we return to our our house,house, butbut wewe cannot cannot celebrate,"celebrate," saidsaid AJ'vflA'sAMIA's president. president. "This"This buildingbuilding isis inin itselfitself a memorial to the victims."

Notes

1. See Sergio Kiernan,kernan, Still No Justice:Justice: FourFour YearsYears After Afer thethe AMIA AM4 Bombing (New(New York:York: The American Jewish Committee, 1998). In the UnitedUnited States, a rally at the Argentine consulate in New York on the fourthfourth anniversaryanniversary of the bombing protested thethe investigation's lack of progress. In March 1999, on the anniversary of thethe embassy bombing,bombing, Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY) also critized the failure of Argentine authorities in the U.S. HouseHouse of Representatives. 2. The Supreme Court hears all cases involving diplomats. 3. Mokhtari's staystay inin BuenosBuenos Aires became a dark comedy. Nobody could figure what to do withwith somebodysomebody who had been arrested abroad but facedfaced no no charges: she could not be jailed,jailed, but there was no legal procedure toto pay for her stay in Argentina. The officials who were supposed to interrogateinterrogate her endedended upup chipping in to pay forfor herher hotel.hotel. DifferentDifferent judiciary bureausbureaus and eveneven thethe StateState Intelligence Secretariat, which hadhad located herher in Europe, were asked to provide funds. Even Mokhtari's friends, old and new, helped pay her bills. The Iranian Iranian was soon charging talk shows and magazines forfor interviews.interviews. 4. Iran remains very much on the minds of Argentines. On June 11,1 1, aa dele-delegation headed by DAIA'sDAIA's presidentpresident Rogelio Rogelio Cichowolsky Cichowolsky metmet withwith ArgentineArgentine foreign minister Guido di Tella and the president'spresident's chief chief ofof staff,staff, JorgeJorge Rodri- Rodri- guez, to discuss the arrest of thirteen Jews in IranIran onon chargescharges ofof espionage.espionage. TheThe government officials expressedexpressed theirtheir "grave"grave concern"concern" for the Jews arrested andand said that if the thirteen Jews "were executedexecuted that wouldwould destroydestroy thethe constructiveconstructive international image of the new Iranian government." But if the Argentine Jewish leaders expected the government officials to act, they werewere sadlysadly mistaken.mistaken. WhileWhile Argentina andand Iran maintain aa veryvery low low level level of of diplomaticdiplomatic relations,relations, withwith charges d'affairesd'affaires in charge of thethe embassies, therethere areare signs ofof a cautious rap- prochement. Earlier this year, Argentina abstained whenwhen aa condemnation ofof Iran was put before the UN's CommitteeCommittee on HumanHuman Rights.Rights. Traditionally,Traditionally, Argentina had voted against Iran. InIn May,May, thethe IraniansIranians reciprocated,reciprocated, lifting the prohibitionprohibition on trade with Argentina. Tehran used to be Argentina's mostmost importantimportant customercustomer for vegetable oils and foodstuffs. Trade was one-sided: Argentina barely bought some carpets from Iran. BreakingBreaking relations relations with the ayatollahs ayatollahs costcost ArgentinaArgentina over $1 million a year inin business. NotesNotes 06 13

5. BothBoth banksbanks have have patrioticpatriotic names.names. "Patricios""Patricios" isis thethe namename ofof thethe oldest oldest regiment in the ArgentineArgentine army, foundedfounded inin 1806, 1806, fourfour yearsyears before before thethe countrycountry became independent, toto fight against aa British invasion. TheThe bank'sbank's logo was a stylized version of the regiment's ceremonialceremonial top hat.hat. "Mayo""Mayo" isis simplysimply SpanishSpanish forfor May,May, thethe monthmonth inin whichwhich ArgentinesArgentines startedstarted theirtheir fightfight forfor independence independence inin 1810.18 10. Its logo was a drawingdrawing ofof thethe BuenosBuenos Aires Aires "Cabildo," "Cabildo," thethe oldold assemblyassembly hailhall wherewhere thethe firstfirst revolutionariesrevolutionaries gatheredgathered inin MayMay 1810.18 10. 6.6. Of Of course,course, therethere were were andand areare JewsJews who who invest invest inin banksbanks and and partially partially ownown banks.banks. WhatWhat disappeareddisappeared with with thethe Mayo Mayo were were the the community-oriented community-oriented banks,banks, friendlyhendly toto itsits institutions.institutions. 7.7. BerajaBeraja isis currentlycurrently involvedinvolved in aa bitterbitter disputedispute withwith thethe presidentpresident of the ArgentineArgentine Central Bank,Bank, Pedro Pedro Pou.Pou. AccordingAccording to Beraja,Beraja, PouPou is is anan anti-Semiteanti-Semite whowho letlet thethe PatriciosPatricios andand MayoMayo collapsecollapse withoutwithout providing providing aa minimumminimum ofof finan-finan- cialcial assistanceassistance mandatedmandated by law.law. BerajaBeraja publiclypublicly charged Pou with saying that he diddid notnot believebelieve "in"in ethnicethnic banks" banks" andand with with purposelypurposely callingcalling aa meeting meeting onon Yom Yom Kippur.Lppur. InIn April,April, BerajaBeraja filedfiled chargescharges againstagainst PouPou underunder the the antidiscrimination antidiscrimination law.law. PouPou hotlyhotly deniesdenies thethe chargescharges andand filedfiled anan affidavitaffidavit beforebefore thethe courtcourt statingstating thatthat "all"all chargescharges againstagainst me are false,false, absolutelyabsolutely false" and that Beraja'sBeraja's versionversion ofof the storystory containedcontained "several"several lies."lies." TheThe JewishJewish communitycommunity divideddivided again overover the the Pou-BerajaPou-Beraja quarrel.quarrel. Beraja'sBeraja's successorsuccessor asas presidentpresident ofof DMA,DNA, Rogelio Rogelio Cichowoisky, Cichowolsky, wondered,wondered, "Did"Did prejudiceprejudice affect the bank failure? II dodo not have any proof, but givengiven the patternpattern ofof events, the central bankbank mustmust have somesome prejudice." OthersOthers believebelieve thethe chargescharges toto be aa smoke smoke screenscreen toto covercover thethe truetrue naturenature ofof Banco Banco Mayo'sMayo's finances.finances. Horacio Horacio Verbitsky,Verbitsky, aa wellwell knownknown columnistcolumnist for the dailydaily Pagina//2,Pagina/l2, reflected reflected thisthis posi-posi- tion,tion, held held byby manymany otherother Jews,Jews, when when hehe wrotewrote aa series series of of stories stories charging charging Beraja'sBeraja's bankbank withwith runningrunning anan offshoreoffshore bankbank holdingholding $200$200 millionmillion inin funds.funds. This This bank-within-a-bankbank-within-a-bank hadhad anan unofficialunofficial existence, existence, reportedly reportedly operated with aa Cay-Cay- manman Islands Islands associate,associate, andand managed managed funds funds thatthat werewere never never disclosed disclosed inin taxtax re-re- turns.turns. InIn fact,fact, some some sources sources say say that that Pou,Pou, farfar fromfrom being being hostile hostile toto BerajaBeraja oror JewishJewish banks, banks, showed showed himself himself particularly particularly friendlyhendly toto bothboth thethe Patricios Patricios and and the the MayoMayo atat thethe timetime ofof theirtheir respectiverespective crises,crises. supportingsupporting themthem withwith tenstens ofof millionsmillions ofof dollarsdollars inin freshfresh fundsfunds toto shoreshore themthem up.up. PouPou himselfhimself pointspoints toto his his publicpublic recordrecord toto showshow thatthat ofof thethe banksbanks thatthat werewere closedclosed duringduring thethe MexicanMexican andand BrazilianBrazilian cri-crises,ses, severalseveral hadhad tiesties toto thethe Catholic Catholic Church Church andand toto prominent prominent Catholic Catholic business-business- men.men. TheseThese banksbanks werewere notnot spared.spared. 8.8. JerusalemJerusalem Letter,Letter, no. no. 400, 400, Feb. Feb. 15, 15, 1999. 1999. 9.9. Name Name withheldwithheld byby request.request. 10.10. InIn fact,fact, JewishJewish communalcommunal affairsaffairs hashas becomebecome aa regularregular beat beat for for the the me- me- diadia andand partpart ofof the the never-ending never-ending AMIAAMIA coverage.coverage. SeveralSeveral journalists,journalists, like like RaulRaul KollmanKollman from Pagina/12Pagina/l2 andand GerardoGerardo YoungYoung fromfrom Clarin,Clarin, havehave become become truetrue specialistsspecialists in in ArgentineArgentine JewishJewish politics.politics. TheThe International International Perspectives Perspectives Series Series

1.1. Harris,Hams, Arab Arab OppositionOpposition to to Jewish Jewish Immigration Immigration to to Israel Israel 2.2. Gordon, Gordon, The The Situation Situation of of the the Jews Jews in in Hungary Hungary 3.3, Gordon,Gordon, The The Jewish Jewish Community Community of of thethe CzechCzech andand SlovakSlovak Federative Republic Republic 4.4. Gordon, Gordon, The The Hungarian Hungarian Election: Election: Implications Implications for for the the Jewish Jewish Community Community 5.5. Gordon,Gordon, The The Jewish Jewish Community CommuniQ of of Romania Romania 6.6. Gordon, Gordon, The The Jewish Jewish Community Community ofAustria ofAustria 7.7. Avineri,Avineri, Israel Israel in in a a Postcommunist Postcommunist World World 8.8. Gordon, Gordon, The The Jewish Jewish Community Community of of PolandPoland 9.9. Baram,Baram, Israel Israel and and Iraq Iraq After Afer the the Gulf Gulf War War 10.10. Bandler,Bandler, Jewish-Arab Jewish-Arab Relations Relations inin IsraelIsrael 11.1 1. Gordon,Gordon, The The New New FaceFace ofAnti-Semitism ofAnti-Semitism in in Romania Romania 12.12. Avineri,Avineri, The The Return Return to to History History 13.13. Gordon,Gordon, Israel Israel and and India: India: A A New New BeginningBeginning 14.14. Gruen,Gnren, Syria, Syria, Syrian Syrian Jews, Jews, andand thethe Peace Peace ProcessProcess 15.15. Golub,Golub, The The Jewish Jewish Dimension Dimension of of the the Yugoslav Yugoslav Crisis Crisis 16.16. Golub,Golub, Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism in in Argentina: Argentina: Recent Recent Trends Trends 17.17. BütorováBlitorovP and and Bütora, Bhtora, WarinessWarinessToward Toward Jews and "Post-Communist"Post-Communist Panic" inin Slovakia Slovakia 18.18. Cramer,Cramer, Germany Germany and and the the Jews Jews 50 50 Years Years AfterAjler thethe Holocaust Holocaust 19.19. Stern.Stem, German German Unification Unif3cation and and the the Question Question ofAntisemitism ofAntisemitism 20.20. Lerner,Lerner, Iran Iran's 's Threat Threat to to Israel's Israel's Security: Security: Present Present Dangers Dangers and and Future Future Risks Risks 21.21. CurrentCurrent Concerns Concerns in in Germany Germany and and in in German-American German-American Jewish Jewish Relations Relations 22.22. Gordon,Gordon, Muslim Muslim Fundamentalism:Fundamentalism: ChallengeChallenge to to the the West West 23.23. Gruen,Gruen, Jerusalem Jerusalem and and the the Peace Peace Process Process 24.24. Golub,Golub, Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism inin SouthSouth Africa: RecentRecent Trends Trena3 25.25. Gruber,Gruber, Right-WingRight- WingExtremism Esctremism inin WesternWestern Europe Europe 26.26. Lewis,Lewis, Koreans Koreans andand JewsJews 27.27. KovácsKovh and and Fischer, Fischer, Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism Among Hungarian CollegeCollege andand UniversityUniversity Students Students 28.28. Golub,Golub, Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism inin France: Recent Recent Trends Trendr 29.29. Pinto,Pinto, Beyond Beyond Anti-Semitism: Anti-Semitism: The The New New Jewish Presence inin Europe Europe 30.30. CurrentCurrent Concerns Concerns in in American American Jewish-German-Israeli Jewish-Geman-Israeli Relations Relations 31.3 1. Gruber,Gruber, The The Struggle Shxcggle of ofMemory: Memory: TheThe Rehabilitation and Reevaluation ofof Fascist Heroes inin EuropeEurope 32.32. Kiernan,Kiernan, Atrocity Atrocity in in Buenos Buenos Aires: Aires: The The AML4 AML4 Bombing,Bombing, OneOne Year Year Later Later 33.33. Clawson,Clawson, Business Business As As Usual?Usual? Western Western Policy Policy OptionsOptions Toward Toward Iran Iran 34.34. Kiernan.Kieman, Waiting Waiting forfor Justice: Justice: Two Two Years Years AfterAjler the the AMIA AMlA BombingBombing 35.35. Gruber,Grubcr, Filling Filling the the Jewish Jewish Space Space in in Europe Europe 36.36. ExaminingExamining the the New New RealitiesRealities of of UkraineLlkraine 37.37. Avineri,Avineri, Chlenov, Chlenov, Gitelman, Gitelman, Jews Jews of of the the Former Former Soviet Soviet Union Union 38.38. Henry,Henry, Switzerland, Switzerland, Swiss Swiss Banks,Banks, andand thethe Second Second WorldWorld WarWar 39.39. Clawson,Clawson, Business Business as as Usual? Usual? Western Western Policy Policy Options Options Toward Toward Iran,Iran, rev. rev. ed. cd. 40.40. Henry,Henry, The The RestitutionRestitution ofof Jewish Property in Central andand EasternEastern EuropeEurope 41.4 1. Kiernan,Kiernan, Justice Justice Delayed: Delayed: Three Three Years Years After Afler the the AML4 AMLQ BombingBombing 42.42. Kiernan,Kiernan, Still Still No No Justice: Justice: The The AML4 AML4 Bombing,Bombing, Four YearsYears Later 43.43. Krichevsky,Krichsky, Russian Russian JewishJewish ElitesElites andAnti-Semitismand Anti-Semitism 44.44. Wistrich,Wistrich, Austria Austria and and the the Legacy Legacy of ofthe the Holocaust Holocaust (also (also available available in in Gennan) German) 45.45. Kiernan,Kiernan, A A Glimmer Glimmer of of Hope: Hope: The The AMJA AMU Bombing,Bombing, Five YearsYears Later

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