10 Israeli Tourists Detained and Mistreated by Argentine Authorities

The Israeli Consul, Avivi Pinhas, confirmed today that 10 Israeli tourists were detained by Argentine authorities on two separate occasions early this month after crossing the border from Chile and were mistreated by the police. All were subsequently released. Pinhas said the tourists possessed valid Argentine visas. The Israeli Embassy has lodged a protest with the Argentine Foreign Ministry but has had no reply to date.

Pinhas said the first group of four tourists had been travelling in Peru and Chile. They were arrested when they entered Argentina during the first week of January and were manhandled by the police. They were apparently suspected of spying for Chile with which Argentina has a long-standing border dispute and other quarrels. They were finally released and allowed to proceed to Buenos Aires.

Several days later, six more Israeli tourists were arrested when they entered Argentina in groups of two but received less harsh treatment than the earlier party, Pinhas said. They, too, were released in groups on January 6, 8 and 10. Pinhas said reports were circulating here that Israeli military instructors were training Chilean forces. The incidents were not publicized. The DAIA; the representative body of Argentine Jewry, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it was unaware of what had happened as nothing appeared in the press.