Word: argentina
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...week began with Argentina's protest to the U.N. Security Council that the kidnap of Mass Murderer Eichmann from Buenos Aires by Jewish "volunteers" was "incompatible with the preservation of international law." Argentina demanded "just reparations" and the punishment of those responsible. To avoid a showdown, an attempt was made to arrange a friendly meeting in Belgium between Israel's Premier David Ben-Gurion and Argentine President Arturo Frondizi, who were both touring the Continent. Ben-Gurion agreed, provided that the return of Eichmann was not an issue. Other Israelis had resentfully pointed out that Argentina had provided...
Instead of the expected diplomatic evasion, old Ben-Gurion admitted that Eichmann had indeed been tracked down in Argentina and surreptitiously taken to Israel. To compound this admission, the Israeli Premier then proceeded to add some flagrantly unbelievable details. Having first announced that Eichmann had been found by "Israeli security services," he now insisted that the Nazi's captors were merely "volunteers," with no official status. Furthermore, it was not really a kidnaping at all. When the volunteers found Eichmann, said the Israeli note, he had "spontaneously" agreed to go to Israel to stand trial...
Thorough Annoyance. This was hard for anybody, let alone a touchy Argentina, to swallow. Argentines got the feeling that not only had their sovereignty been flouted in the eyes of the world, but that Israel was treating them like gullible fools. Nor were they pleased by a gratui tous reference in the Israeli note to "numerous Nazis" living in Argentina. It is true that ex-Dictator Juan Peron had granted asylum to many Nazis; the present government does not enjoy being reminded of the sins of its predecessors...
Thoroughly annoyed, Argentina's President Arturo Frondizi personally penned a sharp note to Israel, protesting "the illicit act committed in violation of one of the most fundamental rights of the Argentine state." He demanded Eichmann's return within the week and yanked his ambassador to Israel back home for ''consultation." Once Israel returned Eichmann, Argentina would consider a formal request for his extradition-but only from West Germany or some international tribunal...
...pleading for understanding of the "profound motivation and supreme moral justification of this act." But Eichmann would probably not go back; Israeli feeling against the Nazi murder expert runs so high that Ben-Gurion would scarcely dare to return him, even if he wanted to. If he does not, Argentina promises to hale Israel before the United Nations, where it is likely to have plenty of support from other Latin-and African-bloc nations. Many could sympathize with the Israelis' hatred for Eichmann. But their high-handed disregard of international law-and even of diplomatic niceties-was costing them...