WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Obama administration said it was "skeptical" that the agreement between Argentina and Iran to set up an independent commission to examine the 1994 AMIA Jewish center bombing would lead to a just solution.
"We are skeptical that such a just solution can be found in the arrangement announced," the State Department said Jan. 31 in response to a reporter’s query. "Iran’s record of cooperation with international authorities is profoundly deficient, which underlines the concern that its engagement on this matter be focused on achieving justice promptly."
Israel and American Jewish groups have slammed the agreement signed Jan. 27 as granting legitimate standing to a government they believe to be deeply implicated in the bombing of the AMIA Buenos Aires Jewish community center, which killed 85 and injured hundreds.
Argentinian officials have said that the commission will present its findings to the executive and that the judiciary, which is seeking the arrest of top Iranian officials in its investigation, will act independently.
