A Senator in Chili was quoted as saying that the country’s Jews, including the country''s Interior Minister, are agents of the Israeli government.
Eugenio Tuma also said the Jewish community was responsible for holding back Chile’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
So far, six Latin American countries have recognized a Palestinian state: Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Ecuador.
Some 300,000 Palestinians live in Chile, the largest Palestinian community outside the Middle East.
Tuma, who is himself of Palestinian descent, accused Chile''s Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter, who is Jewish, of being "an activist and militant for the Israeli cause."
He made similar remarks about Gabriel Zaliasnik, president of the Jewish community’s umbrella representative body.
In a reaction to Tuma’s declarations, David Harris, American Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director said they "are an affront to all Chileans, and should be wholeheartedly condemned by the highest levels of government and civic society."
"Inserting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into Chilean politics in such an odious way, and calling into question the loyalty to Chile of some of its most devoted citizens, is contrary to the nation’s democratic and pluralistic tradition," he added.
"Of course, there is an obvious irony to Senator Tuma''s posture," Harris said. As a Chilean of Palestinian origin, he deems it entirely appropriate to take up the Palestinian cause and press it in the corridors of Chilean power. Yet he questions the right of a Chilean Jew, like Mr. Zaliasnik, to affirm his belief in what''s best for Chile''s national interest."