argentina 2009

 

The Jewish community of Argentina numbers about 180,000 out of a total population of 37 million. Some 80 percent live in Buenos Aires city and the Greater Buenos Aires area. Other cities with a large Jewish presence include Rosario, Córdoba, San Miguel de Tucumán, Mendoza, Bahía Blanca, La Plata and Santa Fe.        

            A total of 428 antisemitic incidents were documented by the DAIA, the umbrella organization of Argentina’s Jewish community, compared to 302 in 2008. Of these, 253 events occurred in January and February under the impact of Israel’s operation in Gaza. The war prompted groups from the Muslim and Arab communities, and from the extreme left and extreme right, to demonstrate hatred toward Israel and the Jewish community. Most of the incidents reported were anonymous email threats and wall graffiti. During rallies in Buenos Aires and elsewhere, slogans such as “Jews assassins” were chanted. Much graffiti in Buenos Aires and in ther cities equated Israel with Nazi Germany and accused Israel of committing genocide.

            From March on, the numbers diminished significantly. The involvement of Arabs, Muslims and the extreme left declined while that of the extreme right increased. Nevertheless, some of the most severe manifestations occurred in these months. An event organized by the City of Buenos Aires commemorating the 61st anniversary of the State of Israel in April was violently interrupted by about 20 hooded youths. There were several desecrations of Jewish cemeteries. On December 22, 27 graves in the Jewish cemetery in San Luis were defaced with swastikas and Nazi slogans, such as “Nazism will return,” “Damn race,” “Long live Hitler,” “Jews out of San Luis” and “Dirty Jews.” The local police were investigating the attack, which was described by the president of the local branch of the DAIA as very alarming. On December 28, a protest was held in the San Luis cemetery against the desecration. In addition to local representatives of the DAIA and members of the Jewish community, the event was attended by members of Congress, government ministers and the vice governor of San Luis. According to Saadia Bentolila, president of the local DAIA, the desecration might be linked to the fact that the previous day the bishop of San Luis had participated for the first time in a Hanukah festivity.