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Jewish man slashed repeatedly with knife and beaten by neo-Nazis in Chile

The Chilean Jewish community, alongside with the Integration Movement and Liberation for Homosexuals (Movilh), have condemned an attack committed against a Jewish member of the Sexual Diversity Group.  He was reported to have suffered a range of physical and verbal attacks, for the sole reason of wearing a shirt depicting the flag of Israel.  The victim (Jorge Arce), has issued a statement following the ordeal, describing how his aggressors followed him: shouting profanities and anti-Semitic slurs, which subsequently descended into applications of physical violence, beginning with stone throwing and followed by beatings and slashing’s.

According to the victim, the assailants were wearing items identifying themselves to Neo-Nazism, thus affirming that the motivation for the attack was wholly antisemitic in origin, and clearly indicates that it wasn’t merely related to Zionism, but to the clear link to Jews and Judaism which the attackers would have inferred from the flag. However, even if the attack was merely motivated by his t-shirt, according to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel” is antisemitic.

Whilst subjecting the victim to fist punches to the chest, the victim’s arms and legs were exposed and subsequently slashed with a knife, from which he suffered multiple cuts. Jorge Arce remarks that there were “40 marks” on his arms, several of which shall scar permanently; a poignant and harsh reminder of the wholly repugnant behaviour he was subject to, for the sole reason of being a Jew.

Movilh condemned the attack, stating the events “deserve total legal and social sanction” and adding that they will fully back any actions the Jewish community sees fit to take. In response to the event, the Jewish community of Chile have stated “we cannot allow more victims of hate in our country.” The incident has made clear the absolute necessity that attacks carried out on the basis of belief or personal identity are condemned, investigated and punished. Unfortunately, the shocking ordeal inflicted upon Jorge Arce offer a harrowing message to the world that the fight against antisemitism is far from won.