The Andinia Plan is a baseless and antisemitic conspiracy theory alleging that Jewish people, particularly Zionists, harbor a secret agenda to seize control of Patagonia, a vast region spanning southern Argentina and Chile, to establish a second Jewish state. Despite being thoroughly debunked by scholars, journalists, and governments, this fabricated narrative continues to circulate in far-right and conspiracy-driven circles, serving as a modern echo of historical antisemitic tropes like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. This blog post explores the origins, evolution, and modern manifestations of the Andinia Plan, exposing it as a harmful myth rooted in prejudice rather than evidence.
Historical Context: Jewish Immigration to Argentina
In the late 19th century, waves of Ashkenazi Jews fled poverty and violent pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe, seeking safety and opportunity elsewhere. Argentina, with its open immigration policies, became a refuge for many. In 1889, 824 Russian Jews arrived on the ship S.S. Weser, establishing Moisés Ville, a farming community where they worked as farmers and gauchos. This migration was supported by Baron Maurice de Hirsch, a German Jewish philanthropist who, after losing his son, dedicated his wealth to aiding Jewish refugees. Through the Jewish Colonization Association (JCA), Hirsch facilitated the establishment of Jewish agricultural settlements, which at their peak controlled over 600,000 hectares of land in Argentina.
From 1906 to 1912, approximately 13,000 Jews arrived annually, primarily from Europe but also from Morocco and the Ottoman Empire. By 1920, Argentina was home to over 150,000 Jews. These efforts aligned with Argentina’s 1853 constitution, which guaranteed religious freedom, and the policies of President Julio Argentino Roca, who encouraged immigration to populate the country’s vast, underutilized lands. Contrary to conspiracy claims, there was never a secret or formal plan to create a Jewish state in Patagonia. Proposals to settle Jews in remote areas were transparent humanitarian initiatives aimed at providing refuge from persecution, led by organizations like the JCA.
The Birth of a Conspiracy
The Andinia Plan emerged as a fabricated narrative, falsely attributing sinister motives to Jewish immigration and philanthropy. It falsely claimed that Jewish settlers, backed by Zionist agendas, sought to colonize Patagonia for a Jewish homeland. No credible evidence has ever supported this theory, and it has been widely discredited as antisemitic propaganda. The myth gained traction in the mid-20th century, particularly during Argentina’s military dictatorship (1976–1983), when it was weaponized to justify surveillance, torture, and intimidation of Jewish citizens. For example, journalist Jacobo Timerman, imprisoned during this period, recounted in his memoir Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number how interrogators pressed him about the fictitious Andinia Plan, revealing its role as a tool of political antisemitism.
In the 1970s, Argentine neo-Nazi writer Walter Beveraggi Allende revived the conspiracy, alleging that Israel planned to seize Patagonia. Despite its fringe status, the theory persisted, fueled by misrepresentations of unrelated events, such as the presence of young Israeli backpackers in Patagonia after completing military service. Conspiracy theorists pointed to these tourists as “evidence” of a territorial plot, though academic studies have consistently found no basis for such claims.
Modern Resurgence and Misinformation
The Andinia Plan has found new life in the digital age, spreading through social media and far-right online spaces with little oversight. A notable incident occurred in 2011 when Israeli tourist Rotem Singer accidentally sparked a massive fire in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, destroying over 17,000 hectares. Though Singer was fined and deported, the incident fueled public outrage in Chile, with some politicians reviving the Andinia myth to suggest the fire was part of a Jewish scheme. By 2017, tensions escalated further as park authorities reported that Israeli tourists accounted for many expulsions from the park, leading some local hostels to refuse them accommodation. These events, though unrelated to any conspiracy, were exploited to reinforce the Andinia narrative in Chilean discourse.
More recently, the election of Argentine President Javier Milei in December 2023 has reignited the conspiracy. Milei, a vocal supporter of Israel who has received awards like the Genesis Prize and pledged to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem, has been accused by conspiracy theorists of being a “Zionist puppet” tied to the Andinia Plan. These claims often highlight his connections to prominent Jewish businessmen, such as Eduardo Sergio Elsztain, Argentina’s leading real estate developer. Such accusations lack any evidence and rely on antisemitic tropes that falsely link Jewish influence to global control.
Debunking the Myth
The Andinia Plan is a textbook example of an antisemitic conspiracy theory, designed to incite fear and division by portraying Jewish people as a monolithic, scheming force. It mirrors historical fabrications like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which falsely claimed a Jewish plot for world domination. No official Jewish or Israeli policy has ever endorsed the creation of a state in Patagonia, and the JCA’s efforts were always transparent, humanitarian, and aligned with Argentina’s immigration goals. The persistence of the Andinia Plan reflects the enduring power of misinformation, particularly when amplified by social media and political opportunism.
Conclusion
The Andinia Plan is not just a baseless conspiracy – it’s a dangerous narrative that has been used to justify discrimination, surveillance, and violence against Jewish communities. By understanding its origins and debunking its claims, we can better recognize and challenge the antisemitic tropes that continue to resurface in modern discourse. In an era of rampant misinformation, critical thinking and a commitment to evidence are essential to dismantling such harmful myths and fostering a more inclusive world.