Alberto Nisman (1963-2015) was the special prosecutor and investigator on the 1994 AMIA Jewish Community Center terror attack in Buenos Aires, Argentina for over 17 years.
I had the good fortune to work with him for three of those years — in Argentina and in the U.S. He was a tenacious crusader against great odds for accountability and justice for the murdered Jews in the two terror attacks there — on the AMIA center and on the Israel Embassy in 1992.
I personally mourn his death on Jan. 18, which is widely viewed as a murder. Even President Cristina Fernandez-Kirschner called it a murder.
After years of investigation and work, Nisman had prepared a report implicating not only Fernandez-Kirschner, but also Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, the only Jew in the Argentine cabinet.
They were accused of collaborating in covering up Iran’s role in the bombings and murder of more than 85 people, and wounding hundreds.
Nisman’s body was found just hours before he was to present evidence to Argentine lawmakers of the cover up and collaboration. Found in his apartment were also documents calling for the arrest of the President and Timerman.
This is a personal loss for those of us who had the good fortune to work with him. This is a loss for all crusaders for justice. This is a loss for Jewish communities everywhere, wanting those who harm Jews to be held accountable.
This is a loss for Argentinians who will never see a resolution to the open wounds of the Embassy and AMIA bombings.
May his memory be a blessing and a call to action to demand justice.
Hannah Rosenthal is president and CEO of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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