Dozens killed, hundreds of houses destroyed – Israel is blamed online

While Chile is dealing with one of the worst fire disasters it has known in recent years, a disaster that claimed the lives of at least 18 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 20,000 residents to evacuate their homes, old conspiracy theories are re-emerging that place the blame on Israeli tourists, and even on the State of Israel itself. This is despite repeated warnings from the authorities and experts that these are baseless claims, which draw their strength from familiar anti-Semitic patterns that have already emerged following the fires in Argentina at the beginning of the month.

The President of Chile, Gabriel Borich, today declared a state of disaster in the provinces of Niuvel and Yubio, and ordered the deployment of military forces to assist in the firefighting and evacuation efforts, after rapid forest fires spread in dry areas near the coastal city of Concepcion. Strong winds, extreme temperatures approaching 38 degrees and prolonged drought contributed to the spread of the fire, which has already consumed more than 200,000 dunams, according to data from Chile’s National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

The heads of local authorities described scenes of complete devastation. In the city of Panco, the mayor, Rodrigo Vera, said that entire neighborhoods were wiped out. “Emotionally I’m devastated,” he told Chilean radio, describing firefighters trapped in the flames and residents fleeing through smoke-covered streets with burnt-out cars standing by.

But alongside the humanitarian crisis, rumors and disinformation also spread quickly. In social networks and in political and activist discourse where claims have been made that Israeli tourists, Zionist organizations or foreign interests linked to Israel are behind deliberate arsons in southern Chile, a narrative that, as mentioned, echoes similar rumors that spread in previous fire seasons in Patagonia and the southern Andes.

The current allegations are not new. For more than a decade, conspiracy theories such as the “Andinia Plan,” the false claim that Jews or the State of Israel are seeking to take over the Patagonia region, have resurfaced again and again in times of crisis. These claims have been refuted many times by historians, journalists and civil society organizations both Jewish and non-Jewish, but they continue to gain momentum during environmental disasters.

In recent days, activists and commentators have pointed an accusing finger at the presence of Israeli backpackers in southern Chile, at Israel’s diplomatic ties with local authorities, and at the involvement of Israeli companies in consulting in the field of water resources management as apparent evidence of a hidden agenda. None of these claims were backed up by the findings of any official investigation.

The Chilean government has not hinted at any foreign involvement in the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the current fires. The authorities emphasize instead structural factors: climate change, extreme weather conditions, forestry policies based on monocultures (agriculture growth univariate)the expansion of residential areas into forested areas, and years of under-budgeting in the field of fire prevention and response.

Against the background of the crisis, Israel’s ambassador to Chile, Peleg Levy, announced that Israel is ready to provide technical assistance in the areas of risk prevention, emergency management and reconstruction after fires, mentioning previous cooperation with the Chilean authorities. The Chilean foreign minister publicly thanked the ambassador for the gestures of solidarity.

However, the aid offer also became part of the public controversy. Critics argue that the diplomatic and economic ties between Chile and Israel, especially in areas such as water management and security consulting, reflect a broader model of privatization and foreign influence over strategic resources. Supporters for their part emphasize that these are technical, non-binding collaborations, which are also accepted with many other countries.

Another factor fueling speculation online is a recent legal case not directly related to the current fires: an Israeli tourist was arrested and charged after he was caught lighting a cigarette in a prohibited area in the Torres del Paine National Park in southern Patagonia. The authorities emphasized that this was a personal violation of the park’s regulations, and not evidence of any organized activity. The tourist is suspected of the offense of starting a fire (or using a heat source as the offense is described) in a protected nature area.

Similar cases, in which tourists from different countries violated safety regulations, occurred over the years, especially during the summer season. Environmentalists warn that focusing on a particular nationality diverts attention from the real risks: negligence, poor enforcement and worsening climate conditions.

Even among anti-Zionist activists, voices opposing the conspiratorial narratives spreading these days were heard. In public statements, activists warned that blaming Israel or “the Jews” for the fires mixes legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy with anti-Semitism, obscures the responsibility of the Chilean state and diverts the discussion from environmental and climate policy failures. “Every fire is political,” wrote one of the activists, “but inventing a Zionist plan behind the fire only serves those who refuse to deal with climate change, with real estate speculation and with the cutting of forest protection budgets.”

Human rights organizations and researchers note that similar dynamics have been observed elsewhere in Latin America, where environmental disasters are sometimes framed through foreign lenses, xenophobia and conspiracies, especially in times of acute political polarization. For residents of Biobio and Niuvel districts, the immediate concern remains survival and rehabilitation, with thousands still staying in temporary shelters, entire communities wiped out, and authorities warning that conditions are still dangerous given the continued extreme heat and strong winds. President Borich called on the residents to obey the evacuation orders without delay: “Don’t wait,” he said. “The fire spreads very quickly.”