American Jewish Committee to Attend AMIA Bombing Trial in Argentina

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 20 September 2001

Two American Jewish Committee officials will attend the trial of 20 Argentines allegedly involved in the July 1994 bombing of the main building of the AMIA, the Argentine Israelite Mutual Aid Association the headquarters of Argentina's Jewish community,.

The trial is scheduled to open Monday before a three-judge panel in Buenos Aires. Jacob Kovadloff, AJC's Senior Consultant for Latin American Affairs, and Kara Stein, AJC's Assistant Legal Director, were invited by the president of the court to observe the trial. Mr. Kovadloff, a native of Argentina, has been on the AJC staff for 31 years, the first seven as head of AJC's office in Buenos Aires.

Five of the defendants, four of them senior police officers, have been indicted as accomplices in the bombing, and could face life imprisonment. They are charged with handling the van used in the bombing, which left 85 people dead. The other 15 defendants are facing lesser charges.

"We can only hope that the trial will finally lead to new revelations from the defendants about who was behind the AMIA bombing, the worst terrorist bombing attack on a Jewish community outside Israel," said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

The American Jewish Committee has been in the forefront of efforts to press for a full and expeditious investigation of the bombing, and to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attack.

AJC leadership has met regularly with top-level Argentine government officials, and a year ago discussed the AMIA bombing investigation with President de la Rua during his visit to New York.

AJC has published annually, on the anniversary of the bombing, an investigative report on the bombing investigation. Publication of the seventh report was postponed until after the trial begins.

A survey conducted jointly last year by AJC and AMIA of Argentines found that only 7 percent of Argentines believe the attack was aimed specifically at AMIA. Fifty-two percent think Jews generally were the target, while 31 percent believe the attack was aimed at all Argentines.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org