Thai Protestors Call for Action Against Foreign Misconduct
Author: Srijita Mukherjee
September 21, 2026
HRRC believes that visitors must respect the laws, cultural norms and local communities when visiting Thailand. HRRC acknowledges the four demands made during the public protest which stress the importance of following the law, working with law enforcement, investigating properties and respecting international law. HRRC urges the Israeli Embassy and other relevant authorities to meet their responsibilities by setting clear guidelines and monitoring the behavior of visiting citizens.
![Chabad House in Bangkok, May 8, 2008. [Image Credit: Bridget Coila/Flickr]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d0bbf9_9b33af979b834411a48af9d0608cab65~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_780,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/d0bbf9_9b33af979b834411a48af9d0608cab65~mv2.jpg)
On September 10, a protest took place outside Israel's Embassy in Bangkok. The protestors raised concerns over the lack of respect for Thai laws and culture by some foreign tourists. Hundreds of protesters expressed their dissatisfaction over the “bad behaviour” of some Israeli tourists.
Sondhi Limthongkul, a political activist, publicly read his letter to Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Alona Fisher-Kamm. He stated that the “era of gentle diplomatic pleasantries and calculated silence” needs to alter, as according to him, some Israelis appeared to believe they can act with impunity. He criticised the idea that Thai hospitality equates to “submission” or “exploitation”.
Given that Thailand's economy heavily relies on tourism, the government has enforced new measures to guarantee respect for its cultural norms. These measures include stricter enforcement against overstaying visas, regulations on property ownership, and the reduction of visa-free stays. Despite these measures, there have been numerous high-profile incidents involving “undesirable behaviour” from Israeli tourists. For instance, an Israeli man was deported because he threatened a zoo owner in Koh Samui over the display of a Palestinian flag in the zoo.
In July 2026, Thailand’s Interior Ministry opened an investigation into foreign businesses after Israeli tourists confronted officials during an inspection of a Jewish Chabad House. The tourists explicitly stated that the area was “Israeli territory”. Additionally, there have been reports of altercations with Israeli business owners regarding unpaid bills.
Sondhi was leading the campaign “Take Our Thailand Back” outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on Sukhumvit 21. The aim of the protest is to urge Israel to monitor the behavior of its citizens in Thailand. Thai protestors carried banners with slogans such as “Thailand welcomes tourists, not war criminals” and “Keep Zionist Expansion out of Thailand”. Mr Sondhi was offered an opportunity to meet the ambassador privately but rejected the offer, stating that the matter is of public concern to all Thai citizens.
Sondhi publicly read four demands for the Israeli authorities in both English and Thai:
Require Israeli citizens to receive instructions on respecting Thai law, culture and local customs.
Cooperate with the Thai authorities to take legal action against Israeli nationals who commit crimes or cause disturbances.
Support investigations into land ownerships and the establishments of Chabad centres.
End what the protestors describe as brutal actions against civilians, hospitals and schools, and follow international humanitarian law.
People are also protesting the expansion of Chabad centres in Thailand, claiming that these purchases are territorial in nature. Many believe that Israeli tourists have entered Thailand to invest in businesses, while some worry that the Chabad houses may be part of a plan to take over Thailand over the next 10 to 20 years. Protestors argue that no nationalities, religions, and organization treated equally should be allowed to escape scrutiny. They believe no diplomatic relationship should protect those who break the law. Following reports of illegal land transactions and local misconduct, Sondhi accused Israelis of trying to “occupy our country, building your own community” in a foreign land.
Ambassador Fisher-Kamm acknowledged that a small minority of visitors have behaved inadequately due to a lack of understanding of local culture or laws, but argued that this was not an attempt of occupying land. She noted that the embassy is preparing travel procedures for visiting citizens and affirmed that they would not protect anyone found to have violated Thai laws.
In Phuket, a Jewish New Year celebration was cancelled at the last minute due to concerns raised by Israeli security officials. Protestors gathered about 500 meters from the Chabad House, shouting phrases like “Save Phuket No Israel” and “Free Palestine”. According to the Bangkok Post, Israeli media such as Jerusalem Post believe the protestors tried to downplay their anti-semitism by claiming the protest was meant to protect Thai traditions. Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, expressed their concerns about the rising anti-semitic language in Thailand.
Panthep Puapongpan, chairman of the Thailand Watch Foundation, Nitithorn Lamlue, a Thai lawyer, and Pichit Chaimongkol, a leader of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, attended the protest with members of their network. Sondhi called to pressure the authorities to recognize and address these issues.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow emphasized that while the country welcomes visitors, they are expected to respect local customs. Deputy Chief of Mission Rami Teplitskiy noted that they are aware of the negative views towards Israeli visitors and stated, The embassy will continue to work hard to foster sustainable friendship and ensure everyone enjoys Thailand with mutual respect."
Glossary
Affirm: to assert (something, such as a judgment or decree) as valid or confirmed.
Anti Semitism: hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group
Campaign: a connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result.
Deport: to send (a foreign-born noncitizen) out of the country by legal order.
Diplomatic: of, relating to, or concerned with the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations.
Dispute: to engage in argument.
Disturbance: an interruption of a state of peace, quiet, or calm.
Downplay: to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is.
Equates: to make equal.
Exploit: to make use of meanly or unfairly for one's own advantage
Flood: a rising and overflowing of a body of water especially onto normally dry land.
Impunity: exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss.
Monitor: to watch, keep track of, or check usually for a special purpose.
Norms: a principle of right action binding upon the members of a group and serving to guide, control, or regulate proper and acceptable behavior.
Occupy: to take or hold possession or control of.
Overstay: to stay beyond the time or the limits of.
Ownership: the state, relation, or fact of being an owner
Privilege: a right or benefit given to some people but not others.
Regulate: to govern or direct according to rule.
Slogan: a word or phrase used to express a characteristic position or stand or a goal to be achieved.
Submission: an act of submitting to the authority or control of another.
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