Macri skips AMIA ceremony due to 'conflicting schedule'

A few minutes before the beginning of a memorial service honouring those killed in the AMIA Jewish Community Center terrorist attacks, City Mayor Mauricio Macri decided to cancel his controversial visit to the DAIA, the Jewish community’s umbrella organization.

As the Argentine-Jewish community seems to be divided between those who support Mr. Macri and those who reject him, the mayor told the organization’s authorities that he would not attend the ceremony due to a “conflicting schedule” and to avoid making others uneasy.

AMIA sources confirmed Mr. Macri had decided to postpone his visit, originally scheduled for Wednesday at 9 am.

Controversy arose when last Monday, Sergio Burstein, head of the AMIA Attack Victims Organization said he was “confident” DAIA authorities would not let Mr. Macri attend the ceremony honouring those who died in the 1994 terrorist attack in the Pasteur Street building.

Mr. Burstein’s feud with the mayor began after he accused him of being part of an illegal wiretapping organization.