12 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

Nothing new about this situation.

As long ago as the early '80s the biggest mountain trekking outfitters in CM banned Israelis after getting so many complaints about their bad behaviour from the hilltribe guides the company employed.

No possibility of "anti-semitism" because in those days the guides had little interest in, or knowledge of geopolitics.

Yep. Spent fair amount of time in Pai way back and they would turn up in large 4WD groups and totally disrupt other guests wherever they were staying. We’re talking way over the top all night loud in nice resort settings. Have travelled the world and every time happened upon them as a group there were issues. There is just no respect for anyone else. Apologists can shove the antisemite nonsense as will give anyone a fair shake no matter where they’re from, I just say it as I see it. So I don’t blame those in the hospitality industry and Thai immigration for being apprehensive when they hear that hordes of Israelis are here.

17 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The 85k Israelis were just tourists. Some behave badly...just like all tourists. It is unfair (but NOT antisemitic) to single them out.

The problem occurs when the young Israelis, fresh out of the IDF, think of Thailand as a no-rules paradise. They were just locked up shooting people for two years and then they hit the Land of Smiles.

I don't know how we solve this problem while remaining just. Israelis come to Phangan for the drugs and the Full Moon Parties.

That's a complete lie and excuse, most of them are not fresh out of the IDF at all and it happens with most age groups in the exact same way. Neither can you even remotely compare this to 'every nation has some bad tourists', it is 99% bad.

In fact the IDF ones usually have a group leader who walks around in boots to check on them, even at night, and they behave better. Those can not drink either as they are still active duty. Those just play the ball game on the beach and fairly behave.

Unless you want to tell me that all bad apples come to Thailand and the good ones stay? I never been to Israel so you tell me. My new idea of reality tells me more that is the same there and that it is the cliche western people with israeli roots or 2nd passports, who always defend it with fire while being clueless themself too.

4 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Yep. Spent fair amount of time in Pai way back and they would turn up in large 4WD groups and totally disrupt other guests wherever they were staying. We’re talking way over the top all night loud in nice resort settings. Have travelled the world and every time happened upon them as a group there were issues. There is just no respect for anyone else. Apologists can shove the antisemite nonsense as will give anyone a fair shake no matter where they’re from, I just say it as I see it. So I don’t blame those in the hospitality industry and Thai immigration for being apprehensive when they hear that hordes of Israelis are here.

Did you manage to stop the youngsters from enjoying themselves ?

Did you manage to convince them to be in bed alseep by 10 PM ?

Were they behaving like they were on holiday or something ?

Quite easy to spot them, you'll see them in a bar with one bottle of water and 6 glasses.

2 hours ago, BuffaloRider said:

fact the IDF ones usually have a group leader who walks around in boots to check on them, even at night, and they behave better. Those can not drink either as they are still active duty. Those just play the ball game on the beach and fairly behave.

Are you saying they're are IDF soldiers active in Thailand?

20 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The 85k Israelis were just tourists. Some behave badly...just like all tourists. It is unfair (but NOT antisemitic) to single them out.

Why would some think it was antisemitic?

That's, in general, don't like Israelis as they are 'kee neeow'.

Bit their money builds Thailand

5 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

AI gives this answer when asked, "How many Israelis have dual citizenship?"

There's a Rabbi in Bangkok who recently got dual Thai/Israeli citizenship. It has started.

How many Thai Buddhists would get citizenship in Israel?

Off topic posts removed @JimCM

4 hours ago, BuffaloRider said:

That's a complete lie and excuse, most of them are not fresh out of the IDF at all and it happens with most age groups in the exact same way. Neither can you even remotely compare this to 'every nation has some bad tourists', it is 99% bad.

In fact the IDF ones usually have a group leader who walks around in boots to check on them, even at night, and they behave better. Those can not drink either as they are still active duty. Those just play the ball game on the beach and fairly behave.

Unless you want to tell me that all bad apples come to Thailand and the good ones stay? I never been to Israel so you tell me. My new idea of reality tells me more that is the same there and that it is the cliche western people with israeli roots or 2nd passports, who always defend it with fire while being clueless themself too.

I am certainly not talking about the IDF troops whose commanders in boots still check on them at night. To my knowledge, Thailand has not been invaded.

I'm a people person. I like to find out who people are and what they're thinking about. No, I don't try to trigger anybody...about anything.

I've talked to groups of young Israelis on Khaosan. Every one of them had just been released from the IDF. One such group invited me to sit. Though they were stoned and loaded, we had some decent conversation and a few laughs.

Before I arrived they were raucous, loud and obnoxious; no other group of tourists was. They were polite to me but, when I left, it was again, a lot of yelling in Hebrew.

I've also talked to four wandering MBK. Every one of them had just been released from the IDF and they'd saved enough money for a dream trip to Thailand.

One girl had bombs tattooed up one arm. One-by-one, they were relatable. But I'm not sure what comes out when they're in groups. Maybe it's just war-mentality camaraderie, nationalism or maybe trying to shake off PTSD, who knows.

People get scarred by war, voth victims & perps. The Israeli families I've met have been warm, lovely, normal people. Why would I ask them if they supported the war? It's not fair to ambush people with your agenda. If it comes out in conversation, you can take it farther.

Would I like to know what they think about the actions of their govt & the IDF, the West Bank 'settlers', rhe wars on Gaza, Levanon & Iran? Of course. But not so much, I'd ruin someone's holiday by making them uncomfortable.

The Jewish girls I dated when young didn't have that hard edge I see in these young Israeli women.

Next time I go to Pai, I'll be looking for those green Army tents and a commander in boots! Maybe I can sneak into the girls' tent!

1 hour ago, JimCM said:

There's a Rabbi in Bangkok who recently got dual Thai/Israeli citizenship. It has started.

How many Thai Buddhists would get citizenship in Israel?

Actually, Jim, I find that really cool. You must know how impossible to get Thai citizenship is for foreigners who didn't come in the 1960s or are zillionaires. Not even lifelong humanitarians like Father Joe have gotten citizenship. I wonder what this rabbi did to benefit the Thai community. Do you know his name? I'd like to pursue this further.

Would Thai Buddhists, or Catholics or Evangelicals, or Pastafarians get citizenship in Israel? Who the <deleted> in their right mind would want it, a passport reviled across the world!

2 hours ago, JimCM said:

Are you saying they're are IDF soldiers active in Thailand?

I'm sure there are, protecting shuls, embassies and consulates, just like other nations.

2 hours ago, JimCM said:

Quite easy to spot them, you'll see them in a bar with one bottle of water and 6 glasses.

Jim-boy, you and the 'Israel can do no wrong crowd, have everything in common. What purpose is served y this sort of post?

1 hour ago, JimCM said:

How many Thai Buddhists would get citizenship in Israel?

According to recent Thai government information, there are 400-500 Thai women married to Israeli citizens and some of their children are dual Thai-Israeli citizens. 71 Thai citizens were serving in the IDF in March 2025, but it is unclear how many were dual citizens.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/singaporeans-thais-indonesian-idf-israel-military-gaza-southeast-asia-dual-nationality-5940261

15 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Actually, Jim, I find that really cool. You must know how impossible to get Thai citizenship is for foreigners who didn't come in the 1960s or are zillionaires. Not even lifelong humanitarians like Father Joe have gotten citizenship. I wonder what this rabbi did to benefit the Thai community. Do you know his name? I'd like to pursue this further.

Would Thai Buddhists, or Catholics or Evangelicals, or Pastafarians get citizenship in Israel? Who the <deleted> in their right mind would want it, a passport reviled across the world!

Probably not allowed to give a name but I've met him when visiting soi 22 synagogue.

If interested, go to

ratchakitcha.soc.go.th

you can search there for ได้รับสัญชาติไทย

2 hours ago, JimCM said:

Quite easy to spot them, you'll see them in a bar with one bottle of water and 6 glasses.

That story has been told for years about various nationalities in Thailand, usually Indians, but also Russians and Chinese. I've even heard it about a super-thrifty Hungarian and three of his friends.

16 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I'm sure there are, protecting shuls, embassies and consulates, just like other nations.

16 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I'm sure there are, protecting shuls, embassies and consulates, just like other nations.

16 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I'm sure there are, protecting shuls, embassies and consulates, just like other nations.

I thought he meant in tourist places

2 minutes ago, Evil Penevil said:

That story has been told for years about various nationalities in Thailand, usually Indians, but also Russians and Chinese. I've even heard it about a super-thrifty Hungarian and three of his friends.

Just my own experience in Khao San Road when bars would show free movies. Many years ago, things may have changed.

4 hours ago, JimCM said:

Probably not allowed to give a name but I've met him when visiting soi 22 synagogue.

If interested, go to

ratchakitcha.soc.go.th

you can search there for ได้รับสัญชาติไทย

No idea why you might not be permitted to name names. I searched the Royal Gazette but I couldn't find any mentions of conferrals of Thai citizenship.

I've been to this Chabad shul and even had lunch with a rabbi, though maybe not the same one.

I'm more interested in why he deserves it.