Argentine, Israeli Diplomats Vow to Find Bombers of Jewish Center

Standing shoulder to shoulder at a memorial to Jewish victims of terrorism, diplomats from Argentina and Israel vowed Thursday in Los Angeles to find those responsible for this week’s bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires that killed more than 45 people.

“We hope the truth comes very soon,” said Luis Maria Riccheri, consul general for Argentina. “Argentina needs that. The world needs it.”

Uri Oren, consul general for Israel, said: “The enemies of peace will not deflect Israel from its way,” adding that his country is “gratified” by Argentina’s swift reaction to Monday’s bombing.

The consuls’ unusual meeting at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance came as rescue workers in Buenos Aires continued digging for 73 people thought to be missing in the ruins of a building that housed the Argentine Jewish Mutual Aid Assn. and the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Assns.

Nearby, about 150,000 Jews and others filled a Buenos Aires plaza to protest and listen as prayers and messages from Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres were read.

At the Museum of Tolerance, Riccheri and Oren met privately with about two dozen Los Angeles-area Jews who have friends or relatives who may have been in the attack.

Officials of the Wiesenthal Center said they have set up an information hot line in conjunction with the two consulates to relay news of victims. Twice-daily updates of the names of those killed, missing or injured are available at (310) 553-9036.

Although Argentina has long had a reputation as a haven for Nazis who fled Germany after World War II, security experts have blamed a pro-Iranian guerrilla group for the bombing. They speculate that Argentina was targeted because of its relatively lax security and large Jewish population.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the center, said the Museum of Tolerance--which recognizes the 6 million Jews killed in the World War II Holocaust--was picked for Thursday’s meeting to underscore that Jews will not ignore terrorist acts against them.

The message should go out that Jews will pursue those responsible for the attack even “if it takes half a century” to bring them to justice, said Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the center.