Thailand investigating Jewish group over 'network of Israelis' buying up land Elis Gjevori on Fri, 09/25/2026 - 08:50 Officials are examining land ownership, building permits and funding at Chabad-Lubavitch centres as public anger grows over Israeli tourists, many of whom are soldiers Members of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand hold placards during a rally outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok, 10 September 2026 (Arnun Chonmahatrakool/Thai News Pix/AFP) Off Thai authorities are investigating up to nine Jewish centres, also called Chabad houses, across the country, widening scrutiny of the New York-headquartered Chabad-Lubavitch extremist movement. Thailand’s deputy interior minister, Polpeera Suwannachawi, instructed provincial governors to “conduct on-site inspections, particularly concerning permits” at Chabad houses across the country. “They are also to coordinate with relevant agencies to verify the company's land ownership to ensure compliance with the law, as well as to investigate construction permits and the source of funding,” a local news outlet quoted him as saying. The announcement on Tuesday comes amid a growing backlash in Thailand against the behaviour of Israeli tourists, many of them former soldiers. Israel’s genocide in Gaza and questions over whether Israeli-linked businesses comply with Thai law have added to the scrutiny. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Chabad-Lubavitch is a messianic, ultra-Orthodox movement linked to radical settler-colonial politics in Palestine. It has become one of the world’s most influential Jewish groups. Its followers include US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his wife, Ivanka Trump. Initial inspections have uncovered “irregularities in the construction permit process, such as rooftop extensions and unauthorized structures,” said Suwannachawi. Authorities also seized products at a Chabad house in Phuket while checking whether they had been imported and sold without the required permission. Suwannachawi said several members of parliament had alerted him to a “network of Israelis” involved in cemetery development and other businesses that had bought land worth nearly 100 million Thai baht ($3m). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); He said authorities needed to establish how the buyers intended to use the land amid concerns that plans by the group would conflict with local religious and cultural practices. Greece's alliance with Israel is becoming a domestic liability Read More » Earlier in September, Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation opened an investigation involving Thailand’s chief rabbi, Yosef Chaim Kantor, and Israeli businessman Maimon David Marciano, according to Thai media. Investigators are examining land purchases, whether Thai citizens acted as nominees for foreign buyers, and alterations to buildings. Kantor has acquired Thai citizenship. No public information establishes whether Marciano has done so. Thai authorities have brought no charges against either Kantor or Marciano. Since Israel began its genocide in Gaza in October 2023, the number of Israeli visitors to Thailand has risen sharply. In 2023, almost 230,00 Israeli tourists visited the country; since then, those numbers have almost doubled. More than 410,000 visited in 2025, and the number is expected to top 500,000 in 2026. Many Israeli soldiers travel to Thailand after completing their military service. Some have participated in the genocidal war in Gaza, enforced apartheid in the occupied West Bank, or fought in the wars Israel has started across the region, including in Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Thai residents have accused some Israeli tourists of arrogance, disrespecting local customs, leaving restaurants without paying, and damaging rented accommodation. Those complaints have fuelled local campaigns to ban Israeli tourists. Politics News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0
Thai authorities are investigating up to nine Jewish centres, also called Chabad houses, across the country, widening scrutiny of the New York-headquartered Chabad-Lubavitch extremist movement.
Thailand’s deputy interior minister, Polpeera Suwannachawi, instructed provincial governors to “conduct on-site inspections, particularly concerning permits” at Chabad houses across the country.
“They are also to coordinate with relevant agencies to verify the company's land ownership to ensure compliance with the law, as well as to investigate construction permits and the source of funding,” a local news outlet quoted him as saying.
The announcement on Tuesday comes amid a growing backlash in Thailand against the behaviour of Israeli tourists, many of them former soldiers.
Israel’s genocide in Gaza and questions over whether Israeli-linked businesses comply with Thai law have added to the scrutiny.
Chabad-Lubavitch is a messianic, ultra-Orthodox movement linked to radical settler-colonial politics in Palestine. It has become one of the world’s most influential Jewish groups.
Its followers include US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his wife, Ivanka Trump.
Initial inspections have uncovered “irregularities in the construction permit process, such as rooftop extensions and unauthorized structures,” said Suwannachawi.
Authorities also seized products at a Chabad house in Phuket while checking whether they had been imported and sold without the required permission.
Suwannachawi said several members of parliament had alerted him to a “network of Israelis” involved in cemetery development and other businesses that had bought land worth nearly 100 million Thai baht ($3m).
He said authorities needed to establish how the buyers intended to use the land amid concerns that plans by the group would conflict with local religious and cultural practices.
Earlier in September, Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation opened an investigation involving Thailand’s chief rabbi, Yosef Chaim Kantor, and Israeli businessman Maimon David Marciano, according to Thai media.
Investigators are examining land purchases, whether Thai citizens acted as nominees for foreign buyers, and alterations to buildings.
Kantor has acquired Thai citizenship. No public information establishes whether Marciano has done so. Thai authorities have brought no charges against either Kantor or Marciano.
Since Israel began its genocide in Gaza in October 2023, the number of Israeli visitors to Thailand has risen sharply.
In 2023, almost 230,00 Israeli tourists visited the country; since then, those numbers have almost doubled. More than 410,000 visited in 2025, and the number is expected to top 500,000 in 2026.
Many Israeli soldiers travel to Thailand after completing their military service. Some have participated in the genocidal war in Gaza, enforced apartheid in the occupied West Bank, or fought in the wars Israel has started across the region, including in Lebanon, Syria and Iran.
Thai residents have accused some Israeli tourists of arrogance, disrespecting local customs, leaving restaurants without paying, and damaging rented accommodation. Those complaints have fuelled local campaigns to ban Israeli tourists.
