The DAIA, the central body for Argentine Jewry reported it had received a message from the Latin American Episcopal Council expressing “our deep condolences” to the “whole Argentine Jewish collectivity” over “the terrible incident in the Lydda Airport, the tragic results of which we must all regret.”
Similar condolences were sent by President Alejandro Augustin Lanusse in which he said “I wish to tell the Jewish inhabitants of our country of my feeling of sincere regret” for the Lydda massacre. The President also said he wanted to add his voice “to that of the entire Argentine people and of all mankind in repudiating most energetically this new manifestation of irrational violence.” A similar message was sent by the President to the Israel government.
The message from the Episcopal Council was sent by Louis Herberto Rivas, secretary of Jewish-Christian relations of the Council’s Ecumenical Department. He said the message was sent on behalf of the department, the Presbyterian Minister Mejia, secretary of the department “and in my name.” He declared, in the message, that the “unfortunate happening” called for prayers that the Almighty “unite our efforts to make freedom reign between all our peoples.”
MASSIVE PROTEST IN BUENOS AIRES
Buenos Aires Jewry reacted with vigorous protests to the Lydda massacre, starting with a closing of nearly all Jewish enterprises at 3 p.m. on Friday, an assembly of 600 protesters at the mission of the League of Arab States here, and a mass meeting of thousands of demonstrators. A group of young demonstrators placed a wreath before the door of the Arab League mission with a legend: “Homage to the victims of Lydda Airport fallen at the hands of Arab Fascist barbarity.” Protest leaflets were distributed throughout the city. The mass meeting filled the Paso Synagogue to capacity and the overflow crowd forced police to close the street to traffic.
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