Israel's Thai Troubles Are Now On The Clock - And It's Spreading

Right, so fifteen days in Thailand. One visit. Then kindly jog on. That is the welcome Sondhi Limthongkul, a prominent Thai media figure and political campaigner, now wants for Israeli tourists, reported after a Phuket rally on 31 October. And separately from that, but still south-east Asia, Malaysia’s prime minister has raised concerns involving Phuket in parliament’s discussion of national security over there too, so for Netanyahu’s government, the anti-Israel sentiment is not only growing, but the argument is spreading beyond Thailand now as well. The usual holiday promise in such destinations is perfectly straightforward as a rule isn’t it? Get off the plane, find the beach, and take a break from the world being set on fire. A regional security controversy is generally not what people mean by taking a getaway somewhere hot and sunny and yet if you are one of the people attributed to lighting one of those global fires, a destination built around welcoming visitors has now become the setting for a campaign demanding that Israeli tourists get one short stay and no second invitation. Welcome to Thailand, now don’t come back. Then came that Malaysian intervention. Another country, another government, and a much more serious setting for questions about what is happening around Phuket. A fifteen-day demand makes for a striking headline. Israel under curfew if you like, but the harder problem for Netanyahu’s government is the scrutiny gathering around it, because officials have powers a campaigner at a microphone doesn’t.