July 7, 1999

FIFTH ANNIVERARY OF A M I A BOMBING

July 18th marks the fifth anniversary of the bombing of the headquarters of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (known as AMIA) in Buenos Aires. The perpetrators of the AMIA attack, which killed 87 people and injured 200 others, remain at-large despite continued international pressure on the Argentine government to apprehend them. The ability and will of the Argentine government to take action on this case remains uncertain, particularly in light of the fact that those responsible for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires also have not been brought to justice.

The JCPA encourages its member agencies as follows:

• Write a letter to Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem (and share it with the Argentine Consul General in your community), urging the Argentine government to act vigorously in its investigation of these crimes:

Write a letter to President Bill Clinton, requesting his continued personal involvement in this issue. Attached are sample letters to both parties provided by B'nai B'rith's Center for Public Policy.

• Consider organizing a memorial service outside the Argentine Consulate, if you have one in your community. Attached is a flyer distributed by the New York Jewish Community Relations Council announcing a service to be held outside the Argentine Consulate in New York City on July 19, 1999. [Note: We strongly encourage member agencies in the tri-state area to send representatives to this service.]
  
  
• Prepare an op-ed piece or a letter-to-the-editor for the local Anglo-Jewish and/or general press expressing disappointment in the lack of progress in the investigations of the AMIA and Israeli Embassy bombings.
  
  
• Additionally, we are exploring the possibility of having the U.S. Congress adopt a resolution on this matter. We will alert you of such action if and when it is initiated.

Also attached is a set of discussion points on the Argentine bombings developed by B'nai B'rith in March, 1999. For more information, please contact Lauren (ext. 200). We also would appreciate your sharing with us information about any action you take in response to this alert.

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The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the coordinating and planning body for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.