This weekend will mark two decades since the murderous attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. That terrorist attack claimed the lives of 29 people, among them Israeli diplomats and their family members, local embassy employees, Argentinean citizens and passersby. The lives of the victims were cut short, but their legacies carry on. Every year we hold services to honor the memories of those who were killed. We understand that Israel and its citizens are targeted by terror organizations, both here and abroad, and that we are faced with terror on both a physical and diplomatic level each and every day. The various threats continuously hover over us, a constant reminder of how much danger our diplomats stationed abroad face on the front lines of the battle that Israel is fighting across the world. Two years later, another explosion rocked Buenos Aires. The Jewish AMIA (Argentine Israelite Mutual Association) building was attacked, resulting in the deaths of 85 men and women, and hundreds more wounded. The attempt by the attackers, among their other goals, was to create a rift between Israel and Argentina. They were not only unsuccessful, but added a new dimension to the already good relationship shared by the two countries. Indeed, a strong friendship is mostly measured in the difficult times. This weekend we will stand together shoulder to shoulder, Argentineans and Israelis, and commemorate those who were killed from both countries. Those malicious attacks created an eternal bond between Israel and Argentina, to share in the fight against Irans global terrorism. To our regret, the planners and perpetrators of the Buenos Aires attacks are still walking free around the world and have been busy for quite a while already planning the next attack. One of them, as we know, is Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Wahidi, wanted by Interpol for his involvement in mass murder. Over the past few months weve witnessed multiple attempts to harm and kill innocent civilians around the world, Israelis and others alike, Jews and non-Jews, in India, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Thailand. Iran is behind all these attacks. Some of the attacks were aimed at diplomats whose mission is to promote peace and prevent violence and bloodletting. Thus, the Iranians are knowingly and willfully targeting a central symbol of peaceful conflict resolution. As deputy foreign minister and a former Israeli ambassador, I know that the Iranian threat will not deter our people from continuing their mission to represent the state of Israel faithfully and reliably in the international arena. The international community is concerned, and justifiably so. The attacks that took place in the 1990s in Buenos Aires are proof that Iran has branches of terror worldwide. Even without nuclear weapons Iran has acted to spread terror and weaken global stability. If it achieves its goal, god forbid, of getting a nuclear weapon, Iran is likely to conduct itself freely and more vigorously under this nuclear umbrella while threatening the world to use it. In the worst case scenario the Ayatollah regime could use this horrible weapon and cause harm and death to millions of innocent people. Israel will do everything to protect its citizens and its interests, including preventing Iran from realizing its dangerous goals. We will act hand in hand with the international community, which shares with us the deep concern over Irans actions and attempts to build a nuclear bomb. Preserving a historical memory is essential and necessary in order to build a better world, and the fight against terror is not one countrys responsibility only. It is a fight that spans borders, continents and nations. The writer is Israels deputy foreign minister.
