PHUKET, Thailand – A Jewish New Year celebration in Phuket was cancelled at the last minute on Friday evening because of concerns raised by Israeli security officials, organisers said, as an estimated 500 people, most of them Muslims, gathered about 500 metres from the Chabad House in the Patong area for a rally organised by a group calling itself Save Phuket. According to the Bangkok Post, participants carried signs reading “Save Phuket No Israel”, and chants of “Free Palestine” were heard at the rally, with protest organisers later issuing a more ominous message stating they were monitoring the situation surrounding the Jewish New Year event in the Patong area and that these Jews were staying inside their mansions.

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Organisers of the Rosh Hashana observance had originally expected more than 1,000 people to take part at two venues, the Chabad House and a local hotel. After consultations with Phuket officials about security, they agreed to scale back the event to about 700 people at the Chabad House only. Phuket Deputy Governor Khetrat Chansilp earlier quoted organisers as saying that cancelling the event would harm Phuket’s image and cause financial losses, but given the steady drumbeat of anti-Israel rhetoric in recent days in Thailand, including antisemitic messages at a rally led by protest veteran Sondhi Limthongkul in Bangkok, it was deemed that holding the event could be risky.

A message sent out by the local Chabad House to those who had registered for the holiday dinner stated that due to a request from Israeli security officials, they deeply regretted cancelling the event and asked people not to approach the area, adding that the protesters could become violent and it was dangerous. The Chabad House said that all other Rosh Hashanah prayers and festive meals scheduled from Saturday onward were still expected to take place as usual.

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The events in Phuket are receiving widespread coverage in major media outlets in Israel, including the Jerusalem Post, which reported that the organisers attempted to justify their actions, or rather whitewash their antisemitism, by describing the protest as an important step in protecting the traditions and customs of the Thai people from disturbances by foreigners. The Times of Israel quoted the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism as saying he was deeply concerned by rising antisemitic rhetoric in Thailand, adding that the State Department remains in close contact with Thai authorities to ensure that the Jewish community is protected during the holiday season.

-Thailand News (TN)