Jewish groups boycotted the Argentine government’s Holocaust Day commemoration Tuesday in protest over the mysterious death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman, while skepticism grew over President Cristina Fernandez’s plan to reform intelligence services that she has suggested were behind the prosecutor’s death.
The annual commemoration, which is normally co-hosted by the government and several Jewish groups, was held Tuesday night at the Foreign Ministry. A government statement said a representative of the Israeli Embassy attended the official event.
But it was shunned by local Jewish leaders. Earlier in the day, about 500 people gathered for a ceremony at a Jewish community center that was bombed in 1994, killing 85 and injuring more than 200. Nisman was investigating that attack and had accused the president of plotting to shield Iranian officials blamed for the car bombing.
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Fernandez noted in her speech that her predecessor at president, her late husband Nestor Kirchner, appointed Nisman to the case after years of paralysis.
Authorities said that Nisman’s remains will be handed over to his family on Wednesday and buried on Thursday.
