Ganz announces Binyamin memorial for victims of Argentina’s AMIA bombing
A proposed memorial in Binyamin will honor the 85 people killed in the 1994 Buenos Aires attack and reflect ties with Argentina’s Jewish community.
By Larissa Bell ·
The 85 people killed in the 1994 terrorist bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires are to be commemorated at a planned memorial in the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. Ganz announced the initiative during a visit to Argentina, 32 years after the attack.
At the memorial in Buenos Aires, Ganz lit a candle and recited Psalms for those killed. He subsequently met with AMIA’s president, and they issued a joint statement announcing plans for a memorial site in Binyamin. The initiative is intended to reflect the relationship between Argentina’s Jewish community and the settlements in Judea and Samaria.
The AMIA building in central Buenos Aires was destroyed by a massive explosion on July 18, 1994. The attack is believed to have been carried out by Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. A replacement building opened on the same site in 1999 and remains a center for Jewish communal life in Argentina.
Two stones retrieved from the destroyed building were preserved within the replacement structure. As part of the Binyamin initiative, consideration is being given to a commemorative feature linking the proposed memorial to the original AMIA building and the history of the bombing.
The AMIA visit formed part of Ganz’s trip to South America, which also included a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei. Alongside those diplomatic discussions, Ganz sought closer ties with the local Jewish community. He described being moved by its strength and vitality and by its rebuilding after the attack.
Ganz said the agreement to commemorate the victims in Binyamin was intended to express remembrance, continuity and unity. He emphasized that distance did not diminish the connections among Jewish communities, telling those in Argentina: “You are not alone.” He also said the victims’ memory would have a place in Binyamin as well as Buenos Aires.
In his remarks, Ganz accused Iran, Hezbollah and Israel’s enemies of continuing to seek to harm Jews in Israel and elsewhere. He said the response would include continued construction, settlement building, support for Jewish communities and solidarity against threats.
After the event, Armoza welcomed Ganz’s visit and praised his commitment to Israel’s territory and security, as well as to Judaism and Torah values. Armoza expressed support from Argentina, pledged to pursue cooperation, thanked Israel for its efforts and said he looked forward to another meeting in Israel.
