Chabad

"This is not just another antisemitic statement. This is a blood libel. And a blood libel will cost lives," Leiter said, referring to his meeting with The New York Times in 2025.

Record Israeli tourism contrasts with growing concern among Thailand’s Jews, as citizenship revocations, tighter enforcement and antisemitic protests unsettle the community.

Noted philanthropist and entrepreneur Phil Friedman, chairman and CEO of technology company Computer Generated Solutions, was named the initiative's general chairman.

Hundreds of protesters participated in a rally against Israelis on Phuket Island. In September, the protest leader led a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok.

The decision follows a series of raids conducted in early October by Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI), police, tax authorities, and other government agencies.

The officer holders, board leaders, and event organizers are all local teens. The “oldest” regular worshiper at the sanctuary is youth community emissary Rabbi Tzami Bassman, who is in his early 30s.

Of the 42, 40 expressed willingness to enlist and were found fit for military service, while 2 were found to have dodged the draft for an extended period and were sent directly to a military prison.

The Chiang Mai inspection was presented by authorities as a routine enforcement visit, with no reports of search warrants or seized materials.

Speaking to N12 News, Israeli Nurit Goren Elfant described the destruction and damage caused by the quake and subsequent aftershocks, some of which reached magnitudes of up to 5.8.

Bangkok Chabad emissary Rabbi Nechemya Wilhelm said that Chabad welcomed the investigation and remained confident that its activities complied with Thai law.