Thailand: New poll shows majority calls for tougher action over behavior of some Israelis
A Thai poll finds that a large majority of people aware of incidents involving Israelis want stricter law enforcement
The growing presence of Israeli tourists in Thailand is causing tensions. According to a NIDA Poll survey, 77.49% of people who have heard of problematic behaviors attributed to Israelis, or have directly encountered them, want the authorities to enforce the law more strictly toward them.
The survey, conducted from September 8 to 10 among 1,410 adults in Bangkok and five other provinces, shows that 76.38% of respondents had heard, through the media or on social networks, about alleged incidents or offenses involving Israelis. Just over 5% said they had personally witnessed such events.
Among the 1,164 people aware of these accusations, 71.22% mention a lack of respect for Thai legislation. Nearly half also mention behaviors considered rude toward the local population or a lack of consideration for the country’s culture.
Other concerns involve the alleged use of Thai citizens as fronts to enable foreigners to control land or businesses, particularly on Koh Phangan and Phuket.
In addition to a stricter enforcement of the law, 45.45% of those concerned wish to reduce the authorized length of stay for Israelis. Nearly 38.5% also want the Israeli embassy to play a more active role in addressing the behavior of its citizens.
The publication of the poll comes just a few days after a demonstration that brought together several hundred people in front of the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. The participants notably called for stronger controls targeting foreigners suspected of violating Thai laws.
In response to the controversy, Israeli Deputy Ambassador Rami Teplitsky assured that the diplomatic mission was taking these concerns seriously and cooperating with local authorities. The embassy also issued a code of conduct urging Israeli tourists to respect the laws and traditions of the country.
Tensions have arisen as Thailand welcomes a growing number of Israeli visitors. More than 277,000 of them visited the country during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of about 7% from a year earlier.