Pictures courtesy of Matichon

 

The Israeli ambassador to Thailand has met with the governor of Surat Thani following growing unease among residents of Koh Phangan over the activities of an Israeli Chabad centre on the island. Local officials said the community was “uncomfortable” with religious gatherings held in private without clear authorisation, prompting calls for proper registration under Thai law.

 

On 4 November, Dr Alona Fischer-Kamm, Israel’s ambassador to Thailand, along with Deputy Ambassador Eli Eliyahu Smeh and consular staff, met Governor Theerut Supawiboonphol at Surat Thani’s provincial hall. The meeting aimed to discuss concerns over Israeli tourists and groups in the province, where authorities have been tightening oversight of foreign activities linked to unlawful work or religious gatherings.

 

Dr Fischer-Kamm noted that more than 460,000 Israeli tourists visit Thailand each year, attracted by the country’s hospitality and sense of safety. She said that the majority are well-behaved and law-abiding visitors, though “a small minority may engage in inappropriate or illegal behaviour”. The ambassador stressed that Israel welcomed Thai authorities taking legal action “in the same way as with any other nationality”.

 

Governor Theerut said local authorities had been under pressure to act against foreigners who disguise themselves as tourists but engage in unauthorised work or activities. These include overstaying visas, illegal employment or suspected involvement in narcotics. He said Surat Thani had formed a special task force to handle such matters, ensuring the law was applied fairly without discrimination toward any nationality.

 

The governor added that local residents had voiced concern about a Chabad religious centre used by Israelis on Koh Phangan, where worship and gatherings reportedly take place behind closed doors. This, he said, made residents uneasy and complicated safety monitoring for officials. He urged the Israeli Embassy to ensure that such centres apply for official recognition as religious establishments under Thai law, as required for all faiths.

 

Governor Theerut also proposed setting up informal communication channels between the province and the Israeli Embassy to improve coordination and quickly resolve misunderstandings. He emphasised that Surat Thani remained welcoming to Israeli visitors but that the law would be enforced equally for anyone found violating Thai regulations.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The Israeli ambassador met the Surat Thani governor after complaints over unregistered Chabad religious gatherings on Koh Phangan.

• Local authorities confirmed they are investigating foreigners suspected of working or residing illegally.

• Both sides agreed to strengthen communication and uphold the law without discrimination.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Matichon 2025-11-05

 

 

 

 

14 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Local officials said the community was “uncomfortable” with religious gatherings held in private without clear authorisation, prompting calls for proper registration under Thai law.

That's kinda scary.

Don't understand the commotion. If they break the law, deal with them according to the latter and throw them out afterwards - for good. 

To be applied to all non-Thais, not only to the chosen people from the promised land - to make that clear! 

Pretty much trying to take over places. The photo was in samui and there is also a truck driving around with Hebrew written all over it saying call them if you have an accident etc instead of calling the Thai rescue on samui.

17 hours ago, Peabody said:

That's kinda scary.

 

It is, if they are allowed to have secret worship it means all religious groups will also demand to do the same hence the muslim terrorists in the south who attack the police and military  will have a free hand, it will be harder to check on their attempts to radicalise people in mosques.

 

 

4 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Don't understand the commotion. If they break the law, deal with them according to the latter and throw them out afterwards - for good. 

To be applied to all non-Thais, not only to the chosen people from the promised land - to make that clear! 

 

The police wish to preempt trouble and stop it before it is allowed to take place. 

Seems straightforward and sensible to me. 

These kind of people is disgusting.They try to take over and make their own laws.

Throw them out of Thailand and ban them for decades.

Everytime people criticis them they say u hate jews and israelis.Semitism is the word they use all the time.

 

14 hours ago, norsurin said:

These kind of people is disgusting.They try to take over and make their own laws.

Throw them out of Thailand and ban them for decades.

Everytime people criticis them they say u hate jews and israelis.Semitism is the word they use all the time.

 

 

There are Chabad Houses everywhere. Maybe you should do a little research about who Rebbe was and what he thought about non Jews. Rebbe is like the spirit guide of Trump. They are infiltrated in almost every country and involved in all kinds of illegal activities. Just look up online where the Chabad houses  are located. The best sources of information about this type of people, usually come from the Jewish media. They have been warning people for many years, but nobody seems to care. 

 

https://freespeechonisrael.org.uk/lubavitcher-rebbes-dark-side/

 

Some of Schneerson’s rarely reported teachings:

“The difference between a Jewish and a non-Jewish person stems from the common expression: “Let us differentiate.” Thus, we do not have a case of profound change in which a person is merely on a superior level. Rather, we have a case of “let us differentiate” between totally different species.”

“This is what needs to be said about the body: the body of a Jewish person is of a totally different quality from the body of [members] of all nations of the world … The difference in the inner quality between Jews and non-Jews is “so great that the bodies should be considered as completely different species.”

“An even greater difference exists in regard to the soul. Two contrary types of soul exist, a non-Jewish soul comes from three satanic spheres, while the Jewish soul stems from holiness.”

“As has been explained, an embryo is called a human being, because it has both body and soul. Thus, the difference between a Jewish and a non-Jewish embryo can be understood.”

“…the general difference between Jews and non-Jews: A Jew was not created

as a means for some [other] purpose; he himself is the purpose, since the substance of all [divine] emanations was created only to serve the Jews.”

“The important things are the Jews, because they do not exist for any [other] aim; they themselves are [the divine] aim.”

“The entire creation [of a non-Jew] exists only for the sake of the Jews.”

 

On 11/5/2025 at 7:06 PM, Peabody said:

That's kinda scary.

in Pai exact same story! 😭

On 11/6/2025 at 9:48 AM, ronster said:

Pretty much trying to take over places. The photo was in samui and there is also a truck driving around with Hebrew written all over it saying call them if you have an accident etc instead of calling the Thai rescue on samui.

 

This 'slightly biased' post deserves a response.

I guess that you do not live on Koh Samui.

 

If you go to Bangrak, Chaweng, Choengmon or many other villages on the island, no parking signs/blockages are everywhere.

Usually by the business owners wanting the space for their customers and deliveries.

They are NOT Israeli.

 

So you think that it is OK that anti Israeli folk  can park outside of a Chabad house and leave a car bomb there.

This is a security issue.

Some time ago, there was a car bomb left outside of a Chabad house near Soi 20 in the area near me here on the island.

Luckily it did not go off and was removed.

It was kept hush-hush so as not to upset tourists.

 

I realise that many believe everything that they read and see on unchecked or biased site and programs like Tik Tok, Fakebook, Al Jazeera, BBC etc but those media have an agenda.

Learn to understand reality.

 

Reality check.

Hamas sent it's soldiers into Israel to kill, kidnap, rape, maim innocent, unarmed civilians.

They started a war with Israel, which is what the Palestinians wanted.

In wars. innocents die.

Hundreds and thousands of them, including children.

Coventry, Dresden, Hiroshima etc.

Hamas could have stopped the war at any time, but chose not to.

They were getting too much propaganda out of it.

Israel is on the defensive against all of the Arab and Muslim countries that want to annihilate them.

They have a right to protect their citizens, even those in Thailand.