Hundreds of Thais rallied against Israeli tourists outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok on Thursday, and protesters are expected to picket a Chabad-hosted Rosh Hashanah event on the resort island of Phuket on Friday after unsuccessfully trying to get it canceled.
The protest at the embassy was led by Thai conspiracy theorist Sondhi Limthongkul, who read out a letter to Israel’s ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm claiming Chabad centers were buying up Thai land to “advance the objectives orchestrated and funded by international Zionist networks,” the Bangkok Post reported.
The letter also reportedly demanded Israel halt its offensive in Gaza and help prosecute misbehaving Israelis in Thailand whom Limthongkul accused of disrespecting local customs and failing to pay bills.
“The era of gentle diplomatic pleasantries and calculated silence, which has been misinterpreted as tacit consent, has come to an end,” said Limthongkul. “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.”
Some protesters displayed antisemitic messages, including “Jews out” and “You Jewish folks don’t understand Thai culture, so get out.” Other signs read “Thailand is not for sale” and “boycott Israel.”
