Thailand is sharpening its tone toward Israelis in the country: Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met Tuesday with Israeli Ambassador Alona Fisher-Kam following a series of incidents involving Israelis and made clear that authorities expect more significant action on the issue.
3+According to the Thai newspaper Matichon, the conversation focused on complaints that have surfaced recently about the conduct of Israelis in Thailand—both tourists and those staying in the country for extended periods and running businesses there.
Sihasak emphasized that anyone who violates Thai law will be dealt with severely, regardless of nationality. He noted that deportation orders were recently issued against an Israeli citizen and a French citizen, stressing that this is not a policy specifically targeting Israelis.
3+Still, much of the conversation focused specifically on Israeli tourists. The foreign minister described receiving complaints about behavior that offended local sensibilities, culture, and the Thai way of life—especially in areas with concentrations of Israelis, including Phuket and Phang Nga.
“Thailand welcomes tourists, but that doesn’t mean tourists from any country can do whatever they want here,” he said. “Anyone who comes to Thailand needs to respect local culture and customs.”
3+According to him, the Israeli ambassador is already aware of the problem and has even taken action on it, but from the Thai government’s perspective, more is needed. “The level of handling needs to be raised and made more significant.”
The foreign minister even warned that if the problem isn’t addressed, it could affect relations between the countries. He mentioned the extensive cooperation between Israel and Thailand, including in agriculture and labor, and the tens of thousands of Thai workers employed in Israel.
3+During the meeting, the ambassador proposed developing a “do’s and don’ts” guide for Israelis coming to Thailand. According to the report, the guidelines will be distributed through the embassy, tourism companies, and airlines.