[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    COMMEMORATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC ATTACK ON THE 
                  ARGENTINE JEWISH MUTUAL ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Mr. WEINER. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 15th anniversary 
of the tragic events that took place at the Argentine Jewish Mutual 
Association (AMIA) in Buenos Aires. This tragic attack on a Jewish 
community center in Buenos Aires left 85 innocent people dead and 300 
wounded in what remains the largest terrorist attack in Argentine 
history.
  This bombing is a reminder of the very real and dangerous threat of 
anti-Semitism in the world. In an ongoing investigation, the 
Argentinean courts formally charged officials in the Iranian 
Government, including former President Rafsanjani, as well as militants 
from their proxy group Hezbollah for plotting and carrying out this 
attack.
  In 2006, Argentina issued arrest warrants for these individuals. The 
following year, INTERPOL issued arrest warrants, but 15 years after the 
attack no arrests have been made. Iran and its neighbors continue to 
offer a safe harbor to these terrorists. These warrants were ignored by 
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who did nothing to apprehend Ali Akbar 
Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohsen Rezaei, two suspected terrorists who 
attended a conference last June hosted by the Saudi Government. 
According to a State Department report, Hezbollah and Hamas 
sympathizers continue to raise funds and support in the border region 
of Argentina as well.
  The people responsible for such a brutal attack on a Jewish community 
center, as well as whatever government or organizations supported them 
must be brought to justice. As we mark the 15th anniversary we must 
continue to condemn these attacks, support its ongoing investigation, 
and urge the rest of the world to do so as well.

                          ____________________