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Argentina adopts universal definition of anti-Semitism

The South American country has a history of anti-Semitic tragedies, such as the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Argentinian flag. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Argentinian flag. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Argentina adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, its foreign ministry announced on Sunday.

A resolution called on all government branches to use the definition “to contribute to the fight of the Argentine Republic against anti-Semitism in all its forms, collaborate in the construction of a culture of prevention of hostility and violence to which prejudice and intolerance lead, promote education for plurality and reinforce the task of guaranteeing the fulfillment of the objective of education, memory and investigation of the Holocaust and its lessons for us and future generations.”

The IHRA definition says: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The South American country has a history of anti-Semitic tragedies, including the terrorist attack on the Mutual Israelite Association of Argentina, or AMIA, Jewish community center in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994. A bomb killed 85 people and wounded hundreds—native-born Argentines, temporary residents and tourists.

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