BANGKOK — Israel’s ambassador to Thailand, Alona Fisher-Kamm, has sought to cool tensions surrounding a series of anti-Israel protests, saying she does not believe antisemitism reflects the broader Thai mindset while acknowledging growing friction over the behavior of some Israeli visitors.
Speaking to AFP in Bangkok on Sept. 15, Fisher-Kamm said Israel and Thailand should work together to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from becoming another source of division inside Thailand.
Her comments came after several protests in Bangkok and Phuket in recent weeks, including demonstrations targeting Israeli tourists and Jewish community activities.
Ambassador: Don’t Import the Middle East Conflict
Fisher-Kamm said she found it difficult to characterize the situation in Thailand broadly as antisemitic.
She argued that Thai society has traditionally been tolerant and welcoming, while acknowledging that a “culture gap” between some Israeli tourists and Thai communities may have contributed to recent tensions.
The ambassador also suggested that social-media campaigns may be amplifying individual incidents and creating greater hostility between Israelis and Thais.
Her message comes as Thailand tries to balance its tourism industry with growing calls for foreign visitors to respect local laws, customs and communities.
Bangkok Protest Puts Israeli Tourists Under the Spotlight
On Sept. 10, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok in a demonstration led by veteran activist Sondhi Limthongkul.
The protesters called for stronger action over what they described as misconduct by some Israeli nationals, along with greater scrutiny of foreign property ownership and Chabad centers in Thailand.
The protest remained orderly, with Thai authorities providing security around the gathering.
Some demonstrators also carried explicitly anti-Israel and anti-Jewish messages, prompting concerns that criticism of specific conduct was crossing into broader hostility toward Israelis or Jews.
Phuket Protest Escalates the Dispute
The controversy became more serious in Phuket, where a planned Rosh Hashanah celebration organized by Chabad was canceled because Israeli security officials feared the gathering could become unsafe.
Around 500 protesters reportedly demonstrated near the Chabad House on Sept. 11. The event had been expected to attract hundreds of people, including Israeli visitors.
The cancellation added an international dimension to what had initially focused largely on complaints about tourist behavior.
A U.S. State Department envoy responsible for combating antisemitism also expressed concern about the rhetoric surrounding the protests, according to AFP.
Thailand Says Visitors Must Respect Local Rules
The Thai government has emphasized that the country remains open to international tourists but that foreign visitors are expected to obey Thai law and respect local customs.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with Fisher-Kamm as tensions grew.
The ambassador said the meeting focused on ways to reduce tensions, while the Thai foreign minister stressed that Thailand could not ignore behavior by tourists that harms Thai people or violates local expectations.
The issue is particularly sensitive because tourism is a major part of Thailand’s economy and Israeli travelers represent an important visitor group.
A More Complicated Debate Than “Anti-Israel”
Thai media reporting shows that the demonstrations have involved several overlapping issues.
Some protesters have focused on alleged misconduct by individual Israeli tourists and concerns about foreign ownership and business activity. Others have linked their protests directly to Israel’s military actions and the war in Gaza.
Those issues should not automatically be treated as the same thing.
Criticism of a government’s policies or complaints about an individual’s conduct are distinct from hostility toward people because of their nationality or religion. The presence of explicitly anti-Jewish rhetoric at some demonstrations has nevertheless raised concerns among Jewish and Israeli representatives.
Israel Wants Tourism Relationship to Continue
Despite the tensions, Fisher-Kamm emphasized the long-standing relationship between Thailand and Israeli visitors.
She said she wants Thailand to remain a welcoming destination for Israelis while working with Thai authorities to address genuine complaints and encourage visitors to respect local norms.
That approach reflects the diplomatic challenge now facing both countries: addressing disputes over individual behavior without allowing those disputes to broaden into hostility toward an entire nationality or religious community.
For Thailand, the episode also highlights the difficulty of managing tourism, local concerns and international political tensions at the same time.
The protests may have quieted in individual locations, but the bigger test now is whether Thailand and Israel can prevent a dispute over tourism and conduct from becoming a much wider diplomatic and social confrontation.
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