Argentine Synagogues Under Police Protection Following Attacks

Interior Minister Antonio Troccoli has ordered the police to guard Jewish schools and synagogues in the country, following attacks against synagogues in two cities this month. According to the World Jewish Congress – Latin American branch, unidentified persons attacked the Sephardic Synagogue in Rosario on New Year’s Day and the Templo Libertad in Buenos Aires on January 12.

In reaction to these events, Troccoli ordered the police to guard synagogues and Jewish schools and issued a statement declaring that “the Ministry of the Interior considered it its duty to renew the deep pluralistic commitment of the government and its special respect for all religious parties …”He added: “Episodes such as those which have recently occured, fortunately sporadic, only reveal the existence of some extremist left-overs which will be fought with all the weapons that democracy can put at the service of freedom and in the defense of its institutions.” Troccoli received a delegation of DAIA, the central representative body of Argentine Jewry and the WJC affiliate here, headed by acting president Luis Comisarenco and secretary general Hilel Rubinson. He assured them that a thorough investigation would be undertaken to uncover the perpetrators of the attacks with the aim of “applying exemplary punishment.”

The DAIA leaders expressed their satisfaction with the replies received from the minister. Comisarenco stated that the attacks were “an aggression against the Jewish community in particular and against democracy in general whose destabilization is sought by these deeds.”

LEADING PAPER CITES CONTEXT OF THE ATTACKS

The prestigious newspaper Clarin referred in its editorial yesterday to the recent events, viewing them in the larger context of military politics in the aftermath of President Alfonsin’s election. Clarin stated:

“The military are in no condition to change things nor to exert any pressure, but trustworthy sources believe that certain sectors might look for extremist outlets to make their views known. This is why the attacks against Jewish temples and certain telephone threats to legislators are being closely watched …. Synagogues have always been the first aim of right-wing terrorism. Up to now the attacks have had minimal impact …. The government reacted with the energy demanded by the aggression against a large national community. Not only did it clearly repudiate the attacks, but it also ordered the immediate guarding of the temples and Jewish schools.”