Eyal Sela, Israeli Ambassador to Argentina (Franco Fafasuli)

31 years after the terrorist attack of March 17, 1992 against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Ambassador Eyal Sela reiterated, in an interview with GlobeLiveMedia, the demand for justice for the attack where 29 people died and more than 200 were injured. This afternoon, the diplomat, who took office in September, will for the first time lead the commemorative act that takes place each year on the property where the building stood. On the dry square where linden trees planted in the names of the deceased grow, Israeli and Argentine officials, survivors and relatives of those who lost their lives, as well as the general public, will pay tribute to the victims.

– What is your assessment of the investigation carried out so far by the Argentine justice to clarify the responsibilities of the attack, which remains unpunished?

-Well, I know that the process is not over and we believe that a situation must be reached to end the process, to bring justice to all the relatives of the victims and to the injured people.

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– So far there has been no justice, do you think this responds to a failure of Argentine justice or are there external factors that influence impunity?

– The truth is that a lot of time has passed and no results have been achieved. I understand that the process did not arrive at a situation that must arrive. Because? There can be different reasons.

– Do you think that new evidence may appear that allows us to find those responsible?

It is difficult for me to say what I think on this subject. It doesn’t matter what I believe or not. More than anything, you need to see what to do. As published, Israel said from the start, based on information outside Argentina, that Iran was behind the attack. Iran planned it and Hezbollah executed it. Even with the names of the people who were inside the vehicle. A suicide bomber blew himself up there, knowing he was going to kill innocent people, knowing that this car bomb was going to kill students going to school and old people going to a house, and people going to pray at the church. This was clear to Israel many years ago.

The spot where the Israeli Embassy building was erected, after the 1992 attack
The spot where the Israeli Embassy building was erected, after the 1992 attack

– Do you think that the terrorist mechanism that led to this attack is still in force in Argentina or has it already been dismantled? Also considering the attack on the AMIA.

-Terrorism continues around the world. Stopping terrorism is the goal of all countries and societies that believe in values, in human rights, in life, in freedom. Terrorism is attacking Argentina, attacking the United States, attacking mosques in Pakistan and synagogues in Jerusalem, people in France, institutions in different parts of the world. In other words, terrorism has no justification and that is why we must all act. Many countries are making great efforts to fight terrorism, so that we never have another attack anywhere in the world.

-Concerning the Iranian plane that arrived in Argentina, do you think there is a possibility of a third attack in Argentina?

Again, it’s hard for me to talk about it. We all talk about collaborating, cooperating, which is a better word. We are all in touch so that such things never happen again.

– To what do you attribute, with the information you have, the arrival of this Iranian plane in Argentina?

Well, it’s still under investigation. At the time, Israel, the embassy, ​​released a document that said the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were involved, as some of the pilots were part of these groups.

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– Apart from this information, does the Israeli government have or will it provide new information that can be added to the file which is investigating the arrival of this plane and these people?

-The event took place in Argentina. There is an investigation here. And I think the most important lead is to continue this investigation. Israel is not part of this investigation, what Israel knew was that the pilots were involved with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It is difficult for me to talk about the future.

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