Cover image via Reddit
An Israeli tourist has sparked outrage in Thailand for claiming that her country's money helped develop the nation during a heated exchange with locals in Koh Pha Ngan
According to local news portal Thaiger, the incident was triggered when the woman refused to remove her shoes before entering the café.
A 15-second video of the altercation was uploaded to the Koh Pha Ngan Conscious Community Facebook page on Monday, 5 May, and has since gone viral.
In the video, the Israeli woman can be heard saying, "My money built your country," while gesturing animatedly and finishing the remark with a wink.
When allegedly confronted by a staff member about the café's footwear policy, she retorted by claiming that Israeli tourism contributes significantly to Thailand's prosperity.
A police report has been filed in relation to the incident.
The video can be found below:
Netizens slammed the Israeli tourist's remarks, criticising her for her entitled and rude behaviour
"How do you go to another country and refuse to follow their customs in such a disgusting, disrespectful way?" asked a Reddit user, while another added, "Thailand needs to change the game and just start deporting these types of people."
One netizen said, "Most young Israeli tourists I've met travelling have come straight out of military service. […] I'm not sure what happens during their service, but it's at the perfect age to turn them into massive tw*ts with little respect for others."
Image via Reddit
The woman at the centre of the controversy has since come forward to defend herself, claiming that her remarks were taken out of context
"Hello, I am the woman in the video. First of all, I would like to clarify that what I said was taken out of context. My intention was to say that Israeli tourism helps the Thai economy.
"I have experienced physical and verbal abuse from my anger towards all Israelis who travel to Thailand," Thaiger quoted her as saying.
The woman further alleged that the individual who filmed the altercation was not a café employee but another customer, and insisted that she had received permission to keep her shoes on due to a foot condition.
"The person who filmed the video and her friend violently chased me out of the café. Even though I left to avoid the situation, the video is distorted and does not show the violence that happened to me at all," she added.
Image via Reddit
Despite her defence, critics have largely dismissed the woman's explanation, with many seeing it as an excuse
The controversy comes amid growing concerns over the behaviour of some Israeli nationals in Thailand.
Thaiger reported several incidents involving Israeli tourists in recent months, including defecating in a taxi, impersonating a tour guide without a permit, using counterfeit US dollars, and causing disturbances in a hospital emergency room.
The situation has raised enough concern that the Israeli Embassy in Thailand has publicly urged its citizens to respect local customs and abide by Thai laws while travelling in the country.
