Attack on Argentine Synagogue Renews Fears of Jewish Community

A synagogue in the heart of Rosario, the second largest city in Argentina, was the target of an arson attempt earlier this week, the World Jewish Congress reported here.

According to the Latin American branch of the WJC, the incident, which was condemned in a published statement by the DAIA, the representative body of Argentine Jewry, has contributed to the climate of concern affecting the Jewish community. There is a profusion of anti-Semitic and Nazi material for sale at news kiosks and book stores, and signs of growing pro-Arab activity threatening the Argentine-Israeli relationship.

In Parliament, the WJC noted, Antonio Paleari, a Peronist Deputy, has submitted a draft resolution requesting that the government not allow Argentine officials to go to Jerusalem where a forest in the name of Gen. San Martin, the Argentine national hero, will be inaugurated in July.

PLO PUSHING FOR RECOGNITION

Moreover, Saad Chedid, who publishes the magazine “Palestine Studies,” and who has become the unofficial spokesman for PLO positions, gave a press interview in which he stated that “the diplomatic recognition of the League of Arab States by Argentina implies the recognition as a state of the PLO, as it is a member with full rights of the League.” He added, “It is now up to the PLO to request the opening of an information office or an Embassy.”

Beyond these development, it has been announced that a meeting of the Argentine Arab community will take place in Rosario to take up an agenda which will include consideration of the role of Arab institutions in Argentina, the relationship of Argentine politicians vis-a-vis the Arab community, and analysis of Arab-Argentine relations.

To complete the picture, the Argentine press has just reported the sale of 20 domestically-built Pucara combat planes to Iraq, although the same reports indicate that the transaction is yet to be finalized.