Buenos Aires, January 10, 2026 – Public debate over the forest fires ravaging the province of Chubut has escalated into a new political and media controversy involving radio host Marcela Feudale, President Javier Milei, and Jewish community leaders, amidst advancing fires that have already devastated thousands of hectares in Patagonia.
The controversy began when Feudale, a well-known radio personality, stated during a broadcast that the fires consuming over 3,500 hectares in Chubut were set by "two Israelis," citing what she considered reliable sources. Local authorities have stated that at least some of the fires appear to have been deliberately set, though investigations by the relevant prosecutor's offices are ongoing.
«While we have more and more antisemitic discourses, what you did, Marcela, is completely irresponsible. It was exactly the same as those who accuse Israel of wanting to burn the forests to take over…», tweeted Deputy Sabrina Ajmechet.
In response to the criticism, Feudale stated that her comment had "no discriminatory intent whatsoever" and apologized if the source she had used turned out to be wrong, though she reaffirmed that her intention was to propose a possible hypothesis about the origin of the fire, and not to pass judgment on a specific group.
Argentine President Javier Milei intervened on social media to harshly criticize Feudale's statements, calling them "the dark side of Argentina," and shared a message from the head of the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations (DAIA), Mauro Berenstein, who rejected her remarks as irresponsible and dangerous for reinforcing an "antisemitic narrative" without foundation.
Berenstein, in a statement shared on social media X, warned that accusing Israeli citizens without proof of being responsible for the fires is irresponsible and risky, as it creates stigma and reinforces hate speech.
The debate comes as provincial and national authorities face one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent years in the Patagonian region, which has forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 tourists and residents from areas near lakes and protected forests, according to reports from international media and news agencies.
Authorities also emphasized the great responsibility of the media in avoiding the dissemination of information that could feed prejudice or discrimination.
«A good journalist checks their sources as many times as necessary», added Ajmechet.
