Israel angered over Argentina-Iran bombing probe

TEHRAN,Jan.30(MNA)– Israel summoned the Argentine ambassador on Tuesday in protest over an agreement between Iran and Argentina to jointly investigate the bombing 19 years ago of a Jewish center that killed 85 people in Buenos Aires and that was blamed on Tehran, AP reported. The attack was the deadliest on Argentine soil, coming just two years after a bomb flattened the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 people. According to AP, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon claimed the Argentina-Iran agreement, which was struck on Sunday, “is like inviting a murderer to investigate the killings he committed.” On Sunday, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced via Twitter that her country and Iran agreed to establish an independent international “truth commission” to investigate the bombing. The commissioners will examine the evidence and recommend how to proceed, “based on the laws and regulations of both countries,” Fernandez said. The agreement was signed in Africa by Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. Israel’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it is “deeply disappointed” and is summoning Argentina’s ambassador to demand an explanation over the joint probe and that Israel’s ambassador in Buenos Aires will request a meeting with Argentines foreign minister for clarifications.