Phuket Jewish New Year event cut to 700 after Thai concerns

The annual Jewish New Year event in Phuket has been reduced from an initial plan of 2,000 attendees to 700 due to concerns raised by Thai authorities. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwanchawee announced the reduction on September 11 while speaking in Chachoengsao province. Around 1,000 attendees were already in Phuket, and another 1,000 were scheduled to arrive from Israel.

The event organizers decided to consolidate the Rosh Hashanah festival at the Chabad House Patong in lieu of two venues. Entry will be restricted to ticket holders, and the organizers requested 50 police officers from the Patong police to maintain order. At a consultation meeting with provincial officials two days prior, Thai officials expressed concerns over potential demonstrations from the Israeli attendees.

The Phuket governor’s office initially reported a decreased attendance range of 800 to 1,000, shortening the event's hours from 4pm to 9pm. Deputy Governor Polrapee ordered the deputy Phuket governor to monitor the event's progress and intervene if necessary to avoid disruption or harm to Thai culture. The government emphasized that all nationalities possess both positive and negative individuals, and they would not tolerate misconduct by foreigners.

A protest organized by the Save Phuket group with 10 allied networks was planned at the Dolphin roundabout on Patong Beach at 3pm on September 11, citing fears of potential conflict and negative impacts on safety, community order, and Phuket's tourism image. Despite the opposition, Chabad Patong confirmed that the event would go ahead as planned.