ARGENTINA COMMEMORATES 1992 ISRAEL EMBASSY BOMBING

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000358 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/IR FOR HWOOSTER S/CT FOR VIRGINIA PALMER AND ARNOLD SIERRA NSC FOR JUAN ZARATE FBI FOR CTD IRAN-HIZBALLAH UNIT AND OIO AMERICAS UNIT E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2018 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PREL PTER AR FBI IS SUBJECT: ARGENTINA COMMEMORATES 1992 ISRAEL EMBASSY BOMBING Classified By: AMBASSADOR E. ANTHONY WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) On March 17, the GOA and the Israeli government held a ceremony commemorating the 16th anniversary of the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. During the event, Minister of Justice Anibal Fernandez gave a candid and critical assessment of the GOA's investigation into the terrorist attack. He stressed the GOA's unconditional commitment to fighting terrorist organizations. He said the ceremony marked "sixteen years of national shame" given that there has been no progress in the investigation, which he called "messy and flawed." Carlos Susevich, father of one of the victims, subsequently made a public appeal to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to push for progress in the case. Israel's Security Minister Avi Dichter also addressed the crowd, directly accusing Hezbollah and the government of Iran for the the attack and calling on all countries to fight terrorism. In a subsequent press conference held after his meeting with MOJ Fernandez and AMIA Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, Dichter claimed that Hezbollah "continues to operate in the tri-border area and has the capacity to act in Argentina." ¶2. (SBU) Media coverage was heavy. The local press favorably noted the Ambassador's attendance at the ceremony and quoted him saying that the USG condemns the attacks and will continue to work with the GOA to bring those responsible to justice. His statement to the press also praised the Casa Rosada for holding the commemoration event and urged all countries to work together in the fight against terrorism. The Israeli Ambassador made a strong statement urging that the Iranians and Hezbollah suspects responsible for the attack be brought to justice. According to the local press, approximately 1000 people attended the event, which is a somewhat smaller crowd than in previous years. Among those present included Vice President Julio Cobos, Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, Vice Mayor Gabriela Michetti, Israeli Ambassador Rafael Eldad, and representatives from the Delegation of Argentine-Israeli Associations (DAIA) and the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA). ¶4. (C) Comment: There has been little progress in the Supreme Court investigation into the 1992 Israeli Embassy attack. Minister Fernandez's pointed criticism most likely reflects the current administration's disdain for the way the investigation was mishandled during the Menem era. However, it could also be read as a veiled criticism of the Supreme Court--as the Kirchner administration, under both Nestor and Cristina, has often publicly criticized the Supreme Court and the judicial system for not moving fast enough in bringing to justice perpetrators of human rights violations during the 1976-83 military dictatorship. WAYNE