Hundreds of people rallied outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok on Thursday, calling on foreign visitors to respect Thailand’s laws, culture and local traditions. The protest came amid growing public criticism of alleged misconduct by foreign tourists, with Israeli visitors increasingly becoming the focus.Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul, a media mogul and political activist, said, as quoted by AP, “The era of gentle diplomatic pleasantries and calculated silence, which has been misinterpreted as tacit consent, has come to an end,” while reading an open letter to Israeli ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm. Fisher-Kamm had met Thai foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Tuesday to discuss the concerns.Sondhi said the Israeli government and embassy should understand that “generosity must never be mistaken for weakness, hospitality does not equate to submission to exploitation and courtesy is not an open license for anyone to act with impunity on our sovereign soil.”In a video message after the protest, Israeli embassy deputy chief of mission Rami Teplitskiy said, “The embassy will continue to work hard to foster sustainable friendship and ensure everyone enjoys Thailand with mutual respect.”The issue has gained prominence as Thailand tightens measures against foreigners who violate laws or overstay visas. More than 277,000 Israelis visited Thailand in the first eight months of 2026, up about 7% from the same period last year.The Israeli embassy said official travel guidance asking visitors to respect Thai laws and culture would be issued, while Thai foreign minister Sihasak said, “Thailand is a country that welcomes tourists, but at the same time, our hospitality doesn’t mean that tourists, regardless of their nationality, can do whatever they want in Thailand.”
Source link
