Fear of escalation in protests against Israelis in Thailand
Organizations and political activists in Thailand are preparing for a large protest against Israel and Chabad, to be held today on the island of Phuket. The organizers have intensified their rhetoric against Israelis and Jewish institutions. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating 19 companies linked to Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, head of Chabad in Thailand, after his citizenship was revoked.
Organizations and political activists in Thailand are preparing for a large protest against Israel and Chabad, scheduled for today (Saturday) on the island of Phuket. The protest is planned to take place between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town, with activists from about 20 local and national organizations participating. Among the expected participants is Sondhi Limthongkul, a prominent political figure in Thailand and a former leader of the "Yellow Shirts" protest movement. Ahead of the protest, the organizers have intensified their rhetoric against Israelis and Jewish institutions. One protest leader, Saichol Nuchit, called for the removal of Chabad-affiliated elements from Thailand and to "uproot" what he termed the "Israeli network" in the country. The organizers accuse Chabad and Israeli entities of illegal business activities and taking over assets, but these broad claims have not been proven in investigations by local authorities. The planned protest is a continuation of a demonstration held in September outside the Chabad House in Patong, which drew hundreds of participants and featured anti-Israel and anti-Jewish slogans. At this stage, no specific new threat or special security deployment by police has been reported for today's event. Meanwhile, Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister announced that authorities are investigating 19 companies linked to Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, who heads Chabad in Thailand, as well as real estate assets and the citizenship status of his family members. The investigation was expanded after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul revoked the rabbi's Thai citizenship this week. Authorities have warned that if legal violations are found, asset freezes and forced land sales could follow. As of now, no assets have been confiscated, and no criminal charges have been reported against the rabbi in connection with the company investigation. Chabad stated that it is addressing the citizenship revocation through legal means and that Chabad houses in the country continue to operate normally.