Israeli ambassador to Thailand plays down anti-Israeli protests

Thailand has traditionally been open to Israelis, unlike some other nations, according to Ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm. However, recent anti-Israeli protests and disputes have caused concern. The Israeli ambassador spoke to AFP about the importance of working together to prevent the Middle East conflict from spreading to Thailand.

She emphasized that the Thai mentality is marked by tolerance and lack of antisemitism. In recent weeks, protests have taken place outside the Israeli embassy, with some demonstrators using signs that expressed hostility towards Israelis. The protests have primarily been focused on perceived instances of rude or inconsiderate behavior by Israeli tourists.

One incident involved a Frenchman and his Thai wife banning Israeli tourists from their zoo due to poor behavior. The Thai government later deported the Frenchman. The Israeli ambassador played down the significance of these incidents, suggesting they were being amplified artificially. She met with Thailand's foreign minister to discuss ways to minimize the issue and prevent further damage to bilateral relations.