Jews Rattled by Anti-Semitic Riot in Argentina

Armed youths attack event celebrating Israel's independence day
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted May 19, 2009 5:16 AM CDT
Jews Rattled by Anti-Semitic Riot in Argentina
Demonstrators display a banner during a march to the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A violent attack on an Israel Day celebration in Buenos Aires has shaken Argentina's Jewish community, CNN reports. Community leaders—who warn there has been a surge in anti-Semitic incidents—say the event was attacked by an armed group of youths shouting pro-Palestinian slogans. Three Jews were injured and five attackers were arrested.

"They came with their clubs, with their arms, one had a knife, one had a pistol—they came ready for this," said Israel's ambassador to Argentina, who witnessed the attack. "It was not a political demonstration. This was violence for the sake of violence." (More antisemitism stories.)

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