III

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 329

Urging the Government of Argentina to pursue and punish those responsible

for the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos

Aires, Argentina.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 28, 2000

Mr. L. CHAFEE (for himself, Mr. HELMS, Mr. SANTORUM, and Mrs.

HUTCHISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to

the Committee on Foreign Relations

JUNE 28, 2000

Reported by Mr. HELMS, without amendment

JULY 19, 2000

Considered, amended, and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Urging the Government of Argentina to pursue and punish

those responsible for the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Whereas on July 18, 1994, 86 innocent persons were killed

and 300 were wounded when the AMIA Jewish Community Center was bombed in Buenos Aires, Argentina;

Whereas the United States welcomes Argentine President

Fernando de la Rua’s political will to pursue the investigation of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community

Center to its ultimate conclusion;
2

SRES 329 ATS

Whereas circumstantial evidence attributes the attack to the

terrorist group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon and sponsored by Iran;

Whereas the investigation indicates that this bombing could

not have been carried out without assistance from elements of local security forces at the time;

Whereas additional evidence indicates that the tri-border area

where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil meet was used to

channel resources for the purpose of carrying out the

bombing attack;

Whereas Argentine officials have acknowledged that there

was negligence in the initial phases of the investigation

and that the institutional and political conditions must be

created to advance the investigation of this terrorist attack;

Whereas on March 17, 1992, terrorists bombed the Embassy

of Israel in Buenos Aires, killing 29 persons and injuring

more than 200 others, and the Government of Argentina

has issued an arrest warrant against a leader of the Islamic Jihad but has not yet brought anyone to justice for

that act of terrorism;

Whereas failure to duly punish the culprits of these acts

serves to reward these terrorists and help spread terrorism throughout the Western Hemisphere;

Whereas the Government of Argentina was successful in enacting a law on cooperation from defendants in terrorist

matters, a law that will be helpful in pursuing full prosecution in this and other terrorist cases;

Whereas the democratic leaders of the Western Hemisphere

issued mandates at the 1994 and 1998 Summits of the

Americas that condemned terrorism in all its forms and
3

SRES 329 ATS

that committed governments to combat terrorist acts

anywhere in the Americas with unity and vigor; and

Whereas it is the long-standing policy of the United States

to stand firm against terrorist attacks wherever and

whenever they occur and to work with its allies to ensure

that justice is done: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) reiterates its condemnation of the attack on the

AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and remembers the victims of this

heinous act;

(2) strongly urges the Government of Argentina to

fulfill its international obligations and other commitments by pursuing the local and international connections to this act of terrorism, wherever they may lead,

and to duly punish all those who were involved;

(3) urges the Government of Argentina to pursue

and prosecute any person with ties to Hezbollah or any

other terrorist organization;

(4) calls on the President to raise this issue in bilateral discussions with Argentine officials and to underscore the United States concern regarding the 6-year

delay in the resolution of this case;

(5) recommends that the United States Permanent

Representative to the Organization of American States

should seek support from the countries comprising the
4

SRES 329 ATS

Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism to assist,

if requested by the Government of Argentina, in the investigation of this terrorist attack;

(6) encourages the President to direct United

States law enforcement agencies to provide support and

cooperation to the Government of Argentina, if requested, for purposes of the investigation into this and

other terrorist activities in the tri-border area; and

(7) desires a lasting and positive relationship between the United States and Argentina based on a mutual commitment to the rule of law and democracy in the

Western Hemisphere and mutual abhorrence of terrorism.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a

copy of this resolution to the President and the United States

Permanent Representative to the Organization of American

States.

Æ