Ganz to anchor Argentina blast memorial in Binyamin
A new site in Judea and Samaria will honor the 85 victims of the 1994 Buenos Aires attack, linking Argentine Jewish history to regional settlements.
By Samuel Hayes ·
The 85 people killed in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires will have a permanent memorial in the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Ganz announced the initiative on Tuesday during a visit to Argentina. The project aims to physically connect the history of the Argentine Jewish community with the settlements in Judea and Samaria. This marks the first time the victims of the attack will be commemorated with a dedicated site in the West Bank.
The AMIA bombing occurred on July 18, 1994, when a large explosion destroyed the building in central Buenos Aires. Investigators believe Iran-backed Hezbollah carried out the attack. The original structure was completely leveled, and a new building was constructed on the site. That new facility opened in 1999 and remains an active center for Jewish communal life in Argentina. Two stones from the ruins of the original building were preserved and incorporated into the new structure.
Ganz traveled to South America for a diplomatic trip that included a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei. He also spent time with local Jewish leaders to strengthen bilateral ties. During the visit, Ganz went to the AMIA headquarters, lit a memorial candle, and recited Psalms to honor the victims. He then met with the president of AMIA. The two men issued a joint statement outlining the plan for the Binyamin memorial.
Ganz described the emotional weight of the visit in a statement. He said he was moved to meet a Jewish community that rebuilt its home after one of the worst terrorist attacks the Jewish people have experienced. He told the community that they are not alone and that the Jewish people are one family. He noted that even when thousands of kilometers separate them, they are connected by memory and destiny.
The joint statement specified that the new site in Binyamin will honor the 85 people murdered in the attack. Ganz explained that the location was chosen because it is in the place where terrorists tried to strike at the heart of the Jewish community. The goal is to convey a message of remembrance and unity. Officials are currently exploring the possibility of incorporating a commemorative element in Binyamin that links to the original building in Buenos Aires. This would include a physical connection to the story of the attack.
Ganz stated that the memory of the victims will not remain only in Buenos Aires. He said they will have a place in the heart of Binyamin. He invited the Argentine community to Israel and pledged to continue strengthening ties between the groups. He emphasized that the Jewish people are always together. Following the announcement, AMIA president Armoza said it was a pleasure to host Ganz. He cited Ganz's determination to secure Israel's territory and security as a source of confidence.
Armoza said the Argentine community expresses support from abroad and will work to advance cooperation. He thanked Israel for its efforts and looked forward to the next meeting in Israel. The announcement comes thirty-two years after the initial blast. The timeline for the construction of the Binyamin site has not yet been finalized. The project will serve as a new chapter in the commemoration of the AMIA victims, extending their memory beyond South America into the settlements of Judea and Samaria.
