Argentina hostel hit by anti-Semitic attack

BUENOS AIRES — A hostel in Argentina’s Patagonia region that caters to Israeli tourists was attacked by residents shouting anti-Semitic slurs, an owner told AFP Wednesday.

The attackers, who appeared to be drunk, broke windows and stole money, luggage and cell phones while shouting anti-Semitic slogans, said Yoav Pollac, 38, an owner of Onda Azul hostel in the town near Puelo Lake.

The attackers screamed profanities and yelled that the Jews were stealing Patagonia, area police commissioner Dario Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez described the attack as an isolated incident and not related to any political group.

The attackers, who were charged but not detained, were young people who had complained about noise from the hostel, Gonzalez said.

The attack forced the hostel, which hosts about 150 tourists at a time, to close temporarily.

Posters calling for Israeli tourists to be boycotted appeared recently in a nearby town.

Argentina is home to the largest community of Jews in Latin America.