|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Baseless claims blaming Israelis for devastating wildfires in southern Argentina have ignited a wave of antisemitic rhetoric across political and media circles, prompting sharp condemnation from Jewish leaders and government officials..
False Claims Circulate as Fires Burn in Patagonia
As wildfires tore through Argentina’s Patagonia region over the weekend, consuming roughly 35 square kilometers in the province of Chubut, a conspiracy theory gained traction online on Sunday. The claim alleged that two Israelis deliberately started the fires using an Israeli military grenade.
Among those amplifying the accusation was Cesar Milani, the former deputy chief of the Argentine Army. Without naming Israel directly, Milani implied that a “foreign state,” supposedly identified by locals, was responsible — while pairing the claim with an image of President Javier Milei waving an Israeli flag.
Arde nuestra Patagonia Argentina:
Un Estado intencionalmente ausente.
Nuevas leyes que habilitan la libre compra de tierras por parte de extranjeros y actividades económicas sobre zonas incendiadas.
Un Estado extranjero, señalado por los propios lugareños como responsable.
Un… pic.twitter.com/iNBaNIo82a— César Milani (@GeneralMilani) January 11, 2026
Political Figures Call Out Antisemitic Dog Whistles
Waldo Wolff, a Jewish communal leader and legislator in Buenos Aires, condemned Milani’s post as cowardly. He argued that the insinuation relied on antisemitic tropes while avoiding explicit language to maintain plausible deniability.
The narrative escalated when opposition activist Luis D’Elía posted online that “the Israelis” were burning Patagonia. D’Elía has previously faced accusations of acting as an intermediary between Iran and Argentine officials tied to the 1994 AMIA bombing case — a Tehran regime-orchestrated attack that killed 85 people at the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.
Media Spark, Then Retract, Dangerous Allegation
The rumor first surfaced publicly on Saturday during a live broadcast by radio host Marcela Feudale, who cited unverified reports of Israeli involvement.
Circulan en redes sociales publicaciones (algunas de cuentas con cientos de miles de seguidores) que acusan a Israel de los incendios forestales en Chubut.
Acá te contamos cómo surgieron y por qué es importante combatir estas teorías peligrosas. Por @ka_levin (1/3) pic.twitter.com/qdumE6gw8m— Meretz Argentina (@MeretzArgentina) January 9, 2026
After widespread backlash, Feudale retracted the statement, apologized, and said she never intended to single out any group. She later shared a post underscoring the dangers of conspiracy theories.
Online posts also circulated images claiming an Israeli-made M26 grenade had been found at a fire site. Argentina’s fact-checking organization Chequeado debunked the claim, confirming that the device was actually an FMK-2 grenade manufactured by Fabricaciones Militares. Provincial authorities backed that conclusion.
Government and Jewish Leaders Push Back
President Milei responded forcefully, accusing those spreading the claims of exploiting Jews and Israel to attack his administration. “I don’t think it was a coincidence,” he said. “They use Israel and the Jews to attack the government, and it got completely out of hand.”
Mauro Berenstein, president of the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA), told Clarín that accusing “two Israelis” without evidence was “irresponsible and dangerous.” He stressed that such claims fuel stigma and hatred, adding, “A lie is not an opinion.”
Sabrina Ajmechet, a member of Argentina’s lower house from Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, said the accusation revealed clear intent. She noted that no one would casually blame “two Spaniards” or “two Australians,” underscoring the antisemitic double standard at play.
Diplomatic Tensions Add to Volatile Climate
The controversy unfolded as Argentina and Israel navigate their first diplomatic strain since Milei took office in 2023. According to a report by N12, Argentina has delayed plans to move its embassy to Jerusalem, citing tensions over an Israeli company’s proposed oil exploration near the Falkland Islands — territory disputed between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
While officials have not formally confirmed the delay, the episode highlights how quickly antisemitic narratives can surface during moments of crisis — and how essential swift, factual responses remain to prevent their spread.
A similar phenomenon was observed following the outbreak of wildfires in Los Angeles, California, a year ago.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
