Rosh Hashanah meal format changed in Phuket after protest
In Patong on the Thai island of Phuket, a planned Rosh Hashanah meal at the local Chabad will not take place in its original format following an anti-Israel protest near the venue. The event for hundreds of Israelis, designed for approximately 1,000 participants, had been planned to take place at Chabad and a neighboring hotel until midnight, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Demonstration near Chabad
Protesters remained in the area around the venue for several hours and chanted, among other slogans, “Free Palestine.” According to Thai media, more than 500 people marched from Patong Beach to Chabad on Friday, carrying signs reading “SAVE PHUKET NO ISRAEL.” Police were deployed in the area after the demonstration.
The local Save Phuket group had previously submitted a petition calling for the event to be canceled, citing security concerns. Thai authorities approved the gathering subject to certain restrictions but rejected the request for cancellation.
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Organizers’ statement
After the protest, its organizers circulated a statement claiming that they were monitoring the situation surrounding the Jewish New Year celebration in the Patong area. The statement used wording about Jews that The Jerusalem Post described as antisemitic.
The organizers also called the action an important step to protect the traditions and customs of the Thai people from violations by foreigners. At the same time, there were no public reports that the meal had been fully canceled, and Thai media outlets covering the demonstration did not report a final cancellation of the event.
