Thai Island Panel Moves to Cancel Israeli Visitor's Permission to Stay
Einav Ashuel, 33, is accused of using services without paying and threatening staff at a national park and a hotel.
By Sakura Novak ·
A committee on the Thai island of Koh Phangan voted Thursday to ask immigration police to cancel the visa held by Einav Ashuel, a 33-year-old Israeli. The panel said police had logged two complaints accusing her of intimidating conduct toward hotel workers and tourists. Its recommendation was made at a meeting chaired by District Chief Paisit Thongcharoen, with police commanders and immigration officials present.
According to the Koh Phangan district administration, the complaints allege she went to Than Sadet National Park and a hotel, used services without paying, then shouted, cursed and insulted staff. The documents also describe threats of physical harm against employees and tourists. Officials have not said whether her visa has been cancelled or whether she has left the country. Ashuel and Israel's Foreign Ministry have not responded to requests for comment.
The same committee has handled Israeli cases before. In late March it recommended pulling the visas of three Israelis who put up Chabad Messiah flags, distributed leaflets and used WhatsApp groups to invite people to Passover events on nearby Koh Tao. Thai officials said then that the activities could disturb public order; a Chabad website later reported the three were deported.
In September, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed a deportation order for Yaakov Ohayon, an Israeli citizen convicted of making threats during a dispute at a zoo on Koh Samui. A court gave him a suspended 15-day sentence and a 5,000 baht fine. A deportation order was later issued against the zoo's owner, a French citizen, over his conduct in that dispute.
The tightening applies beyond Israeli visitors. In early April the Koh Phangan district chief said visas for 13 foreign tourists had been cancelled for improper conduct and said inspections would continue. In May the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok told travelers that officials in Phuket province were enforcing local law more strictly and could cancel visas in serious cases.
