Israeli envoy admits tourists behaving badly in Thailand

Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, Alona Fischer-Kamm, acknowledged a "serious problem" with Israeli tourist behavior following a September 10 protest outside the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. A survey of 1,410 Thais found 77% supported stricter law enforcement against Israelis. Fischer-Kamm noted a 40% increase in Israeli tourism between 2024 and 2025, contributing to more visible incidents. She stated, "Insulting people, shouting, arguments, music and noise in the middle of the night. There is a feeling that Israelis think everything is allowed." The ambassador is working to impress upon Israelis the importance of respecting local law and culture, while also addressing an unfair focus on Israelis, including social media "pile-ons" and the recycling of old or fake news. She emphasized, "Every case must be dealt with, and the goal should be zero incidents. This is not an excuse. But there is a focus on Israel, and we assume there are actors behind some of it."