Marianela Kreiman was 23 years old when her mother, Julia Susana Wolynski de Kreiman, set out to begin another day of work at the AMIA Jewish community center building, and never returned. She was killed in the 1994 bombing along with 84 others. As Kreiman says with emotion, this was not just any building; it was the soul of the lively Jewish community. "A friend of my sister's told us that there had been an explosion in the building. We went there and found my father, but we did not know what had happened to mother. For the first four days, we still hoped that we would find her, but they found her body on the seventh day," Kreiman recalls from her home in Raanana. She moved to Israel with her husband and two daughters six years ago, mainly to be close to her maternal grandparents.
She was left speechless when the death of Argentine federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who had been investigating the terror attack in which her mother had been killed, was reported this week. "This is a terrible day, as if I had gone 20 years back in time, to the exact moment when the explosion killed my mother," she said.
Alberto Nisman, 51, of Jewish descent, was found shot in the head several hours before he was supposed to testify before the Argentine parliament. He had planned to present evidence proving that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had covered up for and protected terrorists from Iran and Hezbollah operatives who were responsible for the terror attack in exchange for oil contracts with Iran.
Nisman courageously conducted a ten-year investigation during which he was threatened and pressured, and finally accused Fernandez and her close associates of having chosen an oil contract with Iran over justice in their own country.
"The authorities claim that he committed suicide, but I do not think so," Kreiman says. "Nisman was firm and determined to reveal the truth."
She sadly admits that the events of her life have taught her that "terrorism knows exactly where it can strike without being punished. It makes me very sad to say that, but I think that the investigation will go on for many years."
A dragged-out years-long investigation is exactly what prosecutor Alberto Nisman never wanted. He became a symbol in Argentina last week as thousands of people stood in the streets carrying signs reading "Yo soy Alberto Nisman" ("I am Alberto Nisman"). Most Argentines and a large portion of the media there suspect that Nisman did not commit suicide, but that he was eliminated so that those responsible for the terror attack could go on as before and the invisible hand protecting them would not be held responsible. For many Argentine Jews, Nisman's death is "the third bomb" after the bombings of the Israeli embassy in 1992 and of the Jewish community center building in Buenos Aires in 1994.
Nisman had intended to make accusations again high-ranking government officials in the report, which was described as a political and legal bombshell.
Many questions surround Nisman's death. If he truly wished to kill himself, why was a shopping list for the following morning found in his apartment? Why did he work on the investigation until very late at night if he was planning to kill himself a few hours later? Vivian Fein, the prosecutor investigating his death, announced that no gunshot residue had been found on his hands. Authorities now say that he was shot at a range of 15 centimeters, and Argentine leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has retracted her initial statement claiming he committed suicide, and says she is now convinced he was murdered.
"There is a covenant with the terrorists," Nisman noted in the 300-page report against Fernandez that he intended to submit to lawmakers. He had intended to make accusations again high-ranking government officials in the report, which was described as a political and legal bombshell.
Paula Ofek can still hardly believe it. For her, Nisman was not only a courageous prosecutor, but also a second cousin. "I was in shock when I heard that he was dead. People in the family had been saying for several years that there were threats against Alberto, and his mother always said that she was afraid something would happen to him. I thought that she exaggerated a bit sometimes because it was inconceivable that a public prosecutor would be in danger in today's Argentina. Unfortunately, I was wrong," she tells me.
Ofek, who was born in Buenos Aires 44 years ago, came to Israel in 1989. Three years later, a bomb destroyed the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, and the bomb in 1994 painted the Jewish community building in blood and left a whole country in shock. "I was a student at the Hebrew University then," she says. "I remember the many conversations with friends and family in Buenos Aires. It was a complete shock. Do not forget that the building was a central place for the whole community."
Leon Amiras, an Israeli-Argentine attorney and a representative of the Latin American community, shares Ofek's feelings. He remembers Nisman's last visit to Israel. "Alberto came here a few years ago to talk about the investigation," Amiras says. "We knew that he was being threatened, so I asked him whether he was afraid. He looked at me and said firmly: 'No.'"
"We demand a transparent investigation of his death and that the prosecutor's office continue the investigation of the terror attack so that the murderers can be brought to justice, since we all know who they are," says Amiras, who is severely critical of the president and especially of Foreign Minister Hector Marcos Timerman, who is Jewish. Amiras claims that Nisman's death throws heavy doubt on the possibility that the Argentine court will ever prosecute the seven high-ranking Iranians who are accused of having planned and organized the attack on the Jewish community center building.
Gustavo Perednik, an Argentine-born Israeli philosopher, writer and educator, also has his doubts about how effective the investigation will be with Nisman gone. For now, though, he is concentrating on mourning for him, since the two were close friends.
Perednik recalls that Nisman lived a complicated life. "Alberto was always being threatened by Iranian or pro-Iranian elements, so his murder does not surprise me," he says. Like many people, Perednik also accuses the government of covering up Iran's part in the terror attack at the Jewish community building.
Perednik and Nisman met early in the investigation. "It does not sound logical to me that he would commit suicide after so many years of investigation and pressure, and the day before he was supposed to give the crucial testimony that he wanted so much to give. Please, think logically."
Perednik wrote a book in 2009 entitled "Matar sin que se note" ("To Kill without a Trace"), about the investigation of the terror attack in Buenos Aires. "I had five possible titles for the book before it was published," he says. "Alberto liked one of them in particular – 'The Murder of Alberto Nisman.' The publisher did not use that title in the end because it was too strong for him."
It seems that in the end, reality was stronger.
This article originally appeared in Israel Hayom.
(6) Gary Katz, March 21, 2015 4:20 AM
Coverup time
The government is already trying to smear his name (alleging he misused funds), as if that should excuse his assassination.
(5) carolina, January 29, 2015 3:04 PM
from argentina
you can't believe the fear we feel in argentina. the president seems oblivious about this all. the whole, jewish and non jewish, community is moved. may Hashem give us strength.
(4) Dvirah, January 28, 2015 5:33 PM
The Report
What of the 300-page report mentioned in the article? Did it disappear? Are there copies? If yes, they can be published not only in Argentina but all over the world.
sonia, January 29, 2015 10:16 AM
We all wonder if there is a part missing
It is likely some parts are missing, there are recordings about people taking out of the building cases and attaches, the night he was found dead. And yes, quite surely there are copies. WEe all wonder if there is anyone who knows about a full copy and be willing to publish it.
(3) Barbara Dagen, January 28, 2015 2:00 PM
There is no way Alberto Nisman committed suicide.
I find this whole story from the bombing of the AMIA building to the cold blooded murder of an extremely brave man Alberto Nisman beyond disturbing. Why are we Jews not doing more?
(2) Beverly Margolis-Kurtin, January 26, 2015 8:59 PM
Give me a break!
A journalist who was also investigating the murder has had to flee to Israel to prevent himself from being killed.
Argentina has ALWAYS loved terrorists. Many leading Nazis went to that miserable part of the world including the architect of the Holocaust, Adolph Eichmann, may his memory be cursed to eternity.
The International Red Cross and the Roman Catholic Church helped Eichmann and many other war criminals to escape to Argentina, so what do we expect from such as country even now, 70 years later? NOTHING HAS CHANGED! So as I said above, give me a break, Argentina thinks that by giving the world's most inhuman criminals that they will somehow improve their lot?
If I were given a first class all expenses paid vacation to the harbor of hate, I'd refuse. Argentina has nothing I want. Give me a break!
Anonymous, January 27, 2015 7:58 PM
Beverly, You are Partially Correct
I agree with part of your commentary, However, you did error on the part of the Red Cross and The Roman Catholic Church. History proves that they both helped and protected all people from the Nazi regime, especially the Jew's and brought many thousands to safety to many countries, not only to the country of Argentina. However, many countries also saw this as an opportunity to make money off of the backs of the persecuted and the downtrodden, and Argentina authorities were the best at it. They allowed Nazi and Facist criminals to escape and enter their country and looked the other way at fraudulent visas and passports. So now you know the other part of the story. But please, let's try not to condemn those people or organizations that helped so many people, especially the Jews, during this horrific time in human history. We need all of our past friends now and in the future, because what remains to come for mankind, so far looks pretty dim.
Anonymous, February 8, 2015 1:32 AM
pope pius XXIII
sent his wishes every year to hitler for his birthday. Google the name...he had a taste for power...as for the red cross, they were aware of the treatement of the Jews and did nothing in order not to lose the abitility to inspect other war prisoners so, they just let the Jews be exterminated and went about their business....search for NY Times (not a great friend of the Jews) "red cross admits knowing of the Holocaust during the war" published Dec 19, 1996... With the history such that of the Jews, one cannot be so naïve...
Anonymous, January 28, 2015 12:42 PM
I agree
Little known fact: during the War, Argentina sent a letter to Hitler, asking that he spare a few Jews to send to them, in order to build up their economy!
aaron, February 1, 2015 4:32 AM
interesting
I´d like to know the source and references, please
(1) Regina, January 26, 2015 6:52 PM
Wakeup, Klal Yisroel
We need all be sickened by yet another murder of a Jew; as I sit here processing my grief and anger, I ask myself: What will it take for us to UNITE and behave like ONE PEOPLE? J Streeters promoting the enemy agenda, Natura Karta embracing those pledging to destroy Israel - PLEASE, MY PRECIOUS JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Face the reality that WE ARE ALL POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF THE JEW-HATERS. It doesn't matter whether you are religious or secular, Israeli or American - WAKE UP!!!! Please, reach out to your fellow Jews and LET'S STAND TOGETHER AS AM ECHAD, LEV ECHAD. That Is what Hashem wants from us - and, even if you find it hard to completely buy into that, DOESN'T IT STILL SEEM LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO? Trying to downplay or even hide your Jewishness is not the solution - even on an INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. Please, please, PLEASE - let's reach out and increase our AHAVAT YISROEL
locally and globally. Stand proud, loud and UNITED:
AM YISROEL CHAI.