Rising Anti-Israel Sentiments in Pai Following Tourists Misconduct

[0815]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Sign in a Pai restaurant declaring "No Israel here" on the right, and an image of the foreign tourist involved in an incident with two female restaurateurs on the left. Composite courtesy: AMARIN TV

 

Tensions are simmering in Pai, Mae Hong Son, as anti-Semitic sentiments have surfaced, leading several businesses and a local restaurants to display signs stating that Israeli tourists are unwelcome. This reaction follows disturbances caused by certain Israeli travellers.

 

On 8th February, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suwit Bunnaphen of the Mae Hong Son Tourist Police confirmed the removal of disruptive Israeli tourists from the country. These individuals were charged with causing disturbances at Pai Hospital and have had their entry permits revoked.

 

Picture courtesy: AMARIN TV

 

The incidents underscore concerns about some foreign tourists who, by behaving poorly and violating laws, disrupt the peace and order of the local community.

 

Police Major General Sakyasira Pueng-um, from the tourist police, emphasised rigorous law enforcement for all tourists, irrespective of nationality, aiming to ensure equal treatment and maintain peace.

 

Following these events, authorities in Pai intend to enforce tourism-related laws more strictly to ensure a harmonious environment for both tourists and locals.

 

Social media activity has compounded the situation. One Facebook user posted that a local restaurant has refused entry to Israeli tourists. Another post, featuring a video, showed inebriated tourists behaving inappropriately, leading to fear among local businesses. The post's author expressed security concerns, feeling anxious with only two women managing the establishment.

 

Picture courtesy: AMARIN TV

 

Immigration Police Inspector, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wichai Panna, said efforts are underway to locate and question the tourists from the viral video to address the concerns raised by local businesses.

 

In 2024, Pai saw 221,776 foreign tourists, including a significant number from Israel. However, official statistics often overestimate actual stays due to repeated accommodation reports for the same individuals as they move locations.

 

Currently, it is estimated that around 2,000 to 3,000 Israeli tourists reside in Pai, a notable reduction from official figures, reported Amarin TV.

 

RELATED TOPIC

4 Israeli men fined for causing chaos at hospital in Mae Hong Son
https://aseannow.com/topic/1351023-4-israeli-men-fined-for-causing-chaos-at-hospital-in-mae-hong-son/

 

-- 2025-02-10

 

 

 

YOU come up with the ANTISEMITIC BS ?
Don't think that the locals in Pai think like that. It's just the rude and disrispectful style of many Israelis.
Have been there 2 weeks ago and the staff of our resort told me about very bad behaviour and they were even calling the cops for help.
Was in Muang Khong and the staff of a rafting place asked me if i would know where these people come from. They behave very rude. Guess from where...
Will enjoy Pai again next week.
Maybe ASEAN NOW should go there too and ask locals instead of blaming them to be antisemitic ?

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Thank you for that, for the 2% of folks that can understand such things. The rabid ones, however, will not be convinced and will continue to foam at the mouth

 the 2 % who believe things that are not true ?

30 % of Israelis have a European heritage 

[Jonathan Swift]

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Any person, Jewish, Israeli, or anything else that supports the right of Israel to exist is pro Zionist.

You have no understanding of what Zionism means.

Zionism does not conflate with current Israeli government policies.

Most current Israelis are NOT of European descent.

You're thinking of American Jews.

The Jewish people in general most definitely do have a historical connection to Israel. 

Older than Arabs for sure.

Israeli is a Jewish majority middle eastern country.

You're spouting ignorant propaganda.

Somebody is trying to encourage people from not being hateful, he doesn't deserve your insults. Correcting him is fine, leave it at that. 

[goldenbrwn1]

18 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

I know what you're saying, but if you don't mind me correcting you, as you said, Thai people use any graphic they happen to like regardless of its actual meaning to anyone else. So I wouldn't say they have an interest in "Nazism", because that is the actual political belief system, and obviously they're not interested in that or any other element of politics or world affairs. They like the decor. I've seen this myself, piles of confederate flags, NAZI memorabilia at flea markets. Remember, the swastika has been around and been used benignly across Eurasia for thousands of years. Thai people have an innocent naivete regarding such things. 

I thought that was what I wrote. Well it was what I meant 😂 . But yeh 💯 I fully agree with you 👍 

[Jonathan Swift]

7 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

A few Israelis cause a disturbance and we see this article, signs banning Israelis, Israelis deported, but not the same action against Russians, Indians, Poms, Aussies and many other nationalities... I guess too many, and too much money lost, and maybe Israelis refuse to pay the corruption payments.

Well, looking into this, it's more than a few Israelis, and it's been going on long enough to be of serious concern. You're doing whataboutism, which is a 5 year old's finger pointing deflection from the issue at hand. Nyeah Nyeah Johnny did this, Susie did that. Your favorite ethnic groups get plenty of airtime of their own, I'm sure you're a great help with that. The money issues here are obvious. Thailand needs and wants tourist dollars, and that's why they are cautious about enforcement. 

[Jonathan Swift]

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Any person, Jewish, Israeli, or anything else that supports the right of Israel to exist is pro Zionist.

You have no understanding of what Zionism means.

Zionism does not conflate with current Israeli government policies.

Most current Israelis are NOT of European descent.

You're thinking of American Jews.

The Jewish people in general most definitely do have a historical connection to Israel. 

Older than Arabs for sure.

Israeli is a Jewish majority middle eastern country.

You're spouting ignorant propaganda.

Rather than take your word for it, for anyone interested, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism

[ujayujay]

5 hours ago, Sig said:

And I'd bet that most Israelis traveling in Thailand have ZERO to do with any sort of genocide, real or imagined.

So there are not members of the IDF?!........

[Patong2021]

2 minutes ago, madone said:

 

interesting remark. really says everything about you I need to know. 

love to hear you rationalize that out.

 

What is to rationalize? She went on her own to a storm swollen stream, took off her clothes and went for a swim. She would not be the first foreigner to have done that, nor the first to have tragically drowned. Adult Thais do not swim naked, nor do they  swim in storm surged water, and they do not do it alone. Had she respected local customs, she might very well still be alive today. It was a death by misadventure, like so many of the young Europeans who persih in Thailand because of their personal choices. I am not victim blaming. Rather, her tragic death illustrates how some foreigners behave. If you don't like this example, how about the Europeans who posed naked at the Ayuthaya historic religious site, offending millions of Thais. As I recall, they were not deported.

[ujayujay]

Many here do not have the intellect to distinguish between anti-Israel and anti-Semitism.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, PomPolo said:

All I see is a guy walking down the street with his shirt off.

The business owners putting the signs up should be arrested as that is probably the highest form of discrimination you could get.

I have seen a couple if signs on the walls of restaurants in the Soi Buckawo area asking that no customer comes in shirtless. If I came into a restaurant and there was anyone dining shirtless I would ask to see the boss and tell him/her why I am now not dining in his/her restaurant.

[Dogmatix]

Tensions are simmering in Pai, Mae Hong Son, as anti-Semitic sentiments have surfaced

 

No. There is no sign of anti-Semitic sentiment here.  Semitic peoples are in fact mainly Arabs with a very small percentage of Jews who are also, of course, Semitic people.  There is also no sign of anti-Jewish sentiment - just anti-Israeli sentiment brought on decent, law abiding Israeli tourists by a small minority of their countrymen who behave in an obnoxious and criminal manner in Pai.  If a certain nationality group behaves it that way, even though it is discriminatory and wrong, it is understandable that Thai business owners don't want them in their premises.  

 

Hopefully Thai police can root out some of the Israeli law breakers and have them deported and blacklisted for life to reduce the problem.  But that's a faint hope.  So businesses will continue to exclude Israelis. 

[zmisha]

3 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

There is also no sign of anti-Jewish sentiment - just anti-Israeli sentiment

Agree. Any other nation will be treated the same.

[thenewgoo]

I remember seeing lots of 'no Israeli' signs outside guest houses along the Nepali hiking trails. It had nothing to do with religion or policy. The Nepalese felt they were rude, argumentive, and more trouble than their demands for discounts were worth.

[frank83628]

7 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Not surprising the anti semitism is coming to the surface after their fixation with all things nazi. Education desperately needed here in Thailand

 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-europe-battles-anti-semitism-thailand-grapples-with-nazi-chic/

 

Swastikas and statues, SE Asia's fixation with Nazi iconography

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1638402/swastikas-and-statues-se-asias-fixation-with-nazi-iconography

I bought one of those on khao San a few years ago. They had a few equally funny shirts with Hitler on them

[Jingthing]

25 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Somebody is trying to encourage people from not being hateful, he doesn't deserve your insults. Correcting him is fine, leave it at that. 

No. He posted misinformation often used by ignorant Israel demonizers. 

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, frank83628 said:

I bought one of those on khao San a few years ago. They had a few equally funny shirts with Hitler on them

Hardly surprising to hear that from you

[hotsun]

20 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Well, looking into this, it's more than a few Israelis, and it's been going on long enough to be of serious concern. You're doing whataboutism, which is a 5 year old's finger pointing deflection from the issue at hand. Nyeah Nyeah Johnny did this, Susie did that. Your favorite ethnic groups get plenty of airtime of their own, I'm sure you're a great help with that. The money issues here are obvious. Thailand needs and wants tourist dollars, and that's why they are cautious about enforcement. 

Well thats what strikes me the most about it. If there were enough israelis in Pai then thai people couldnt afford to discriminate, because thats whats going on in phuket and pattaya with all the unruly tourists they have there.

[Jingthing]

21 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Rather than take your word for it, for anyone interested, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism

Fine with me.

[frank83628]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Hardly surprising to hear that from you

Yep, expected that response. Got some Putin and Trump ones too. Not had 1 negative comment from anyone either, the opposite in fact.

[hotsun]

40 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

When was the last time you were in Pai? Pai is not Phuket, such behavior is not the norm there and people neither expect nor deserve it. A dozen badly behaving individuals in a tiny place like Pai is far more damaging that in a huge place like Phuket because they are not prepared to have their community uprooted like that. Phuket, Pattaya, other places have been dealing with this for years, they're more or less used to it. This isn't "politics". It's more bad behavior by tourists because "be careful what you ask for". Whatever politics may be emigrating here exists only in the minds of those carrying it in their heads and projecting it onto Thailand, as you seem to be doing. The last Time I was in Pai I was rather stunned to find this to be the problem that it is. It's much worse than any other tourist behavior problem that I have seen here in 11 years. 

No matter how bad of a problem it is for them, they will tolerate it for the right price. See pattaya and phuket. They cant afford to discriminate there

[Patong2021]

2 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

So there are not members of the IDF?!........

 

You are relying on your own bias. My best friend while in Thai military service, was in contact with insurgents. He does remarkably better as a human than you as he doesn't hate all muslims, despite having been at risk.  So what if someone is in the IDF. The team which was deployed to assist in the fires in California all served in the IDF. Everyone is expected to serve, Their IDF duties range from social workers, to IT specialists, to combat units, to mechanics, to hospital workers, to  morgue duties, to  cafeteria work.

 

4 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Well, looking into this, it's more than a few Israelis, and it's been going on long enough to be of serious concern. You're doing whataboutism, which is a 5 year old's finger pointing deflection from the issue at hand. Nyeah Nyeah Johnny did this, Susie did that. Your favorite ethnic groups get plenty of airtime of their own, I'm sure you're a great help with that. The money issues here are obvious. Thailand needs and wants tourist dollars, and that's why they are cautious about enforcement. 

 

What nonsense. The claims of large numbers of Isrtaelis comes from  westerners who have their own bias. The Thai  data does not support your claim. There are not even enough Israelis  to generate the  issues that you claim.

 

11 minutes ago, 0815 said:

YOU come up with the ANTISEMITIC BS ?
Don't think that the locals in Pai think like that. It's just the rude and disrispectful style of many Israelis.
Have been there 2 weeks ago and the staff of our resort told me about very bad behaviour and they were even calling the cops for help.
Was in Muang Khong and the staff of a rafting place asked me if i would know where these people come from. They behave very rude. Guess from where...
Will enjoy Pai again next week.
Maybe ASEAN NOW should go there too and ask locals instead of blaming them to be antisemitic ?

 

You are projecting your own bias. The funny part is that you can't even  put together a coherent expression of hate. You say the resort you stayed in was complaining about Israelis and then you come up with a statement that the rafting company was asking if you know where these people came from.  Surely, if Israelis were all that evil, the Thais would know. Why were there Israelis at your resort? Most of the problems with the Israelis are with the 18-25 year old  males, many of whom have never traveled before and are of lower socio economic backgrounds. They typically do not go to resorts because they can't afford them and often stay at Israeli secured  lodgings which are places run by Israeli friendly Thais. 

 

You are not fooling anyone who knows Thailand. Pai, like Patong and Pattaya and  much of Koh  Samui is motivated by money.  The Thais don't care who the customer is as long as they can turn a profit. If that wasn't the case, the Russians wouldn't have a run of the house in Phuket. I doubt very much that  the locals are going to confide in you. They tell you what  you want to hear, just as the  bar girls tell the losers in their bars how hansum they are.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, frank83628 said:

Yep, expected that response. Got some Putin and Trump ones too. Not had 1 negative comment from anyone either, the opposite in fact.

Wrong topic now fella

[oslooskar]

5 hours ago, findlay13 said:

Unfortunately too many end up in the LOS. 

Or among San Francisco's homeless population.

[Kinok Farang]

This isn't new to Thailand.

20 years ago lots of backpacker rooms on Khao San Rd had a "no Israelis" sign on the front desk.

And there wasn't many left in Germany in 1945.

[Jingthing]

My personal experience with Israelis in Thailand has been observating absolutely no unacceptable deportabke behavior. Often being cliqueish and brusque for sure but so what. I haven't even seen arguments over bills or demanding discounts which is a trope often used  I have seen that with Indians. However the reason I do believe the horror stories about Israeli backpackers is a film I saw years ago thst clearly wasn’t a hit piece but did honestly and sympathetically depict the bad behavior problems with long stay young Israelis after military service. Also of course I believe there are some criminal expat Israelis same as many other nationalities. 

[Spock]

1 hour ago, madone said:

 

interesting remark. really says everything about you I need to know. 

 

love to hear you rationalize that out.

 

Yeah I read it that because she was swimming naked she got what she deserves. Weird times.

[pomchop]

so article says 2 to 3k israelis live in pai...kinda strange as google says entire population of pai is 3000??

8 hours ago, save the frogs said:

reside? so are they tourists ... or ? 

 

[suzannegoh]

6 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

The Brits are happy.....55555.

Good point.  Who would have thought that there are more boisterous alcoholics than the Brits?

[AloisAmrein]

Nothing new here. I have met Israeli tourists in Argentina behaving very badly and rude already 20 years ago. In some guesthouses there were signs not permitting admission to Israeli tourists.

[dpeti73]

They just can't behave, in Bkk Taco Bell just walking in the kitchen area because he want wash hand, poor Thai staff try to stop him but he just push her away. In Europe they act same not respect other people at all. The worst type of tourists.