Rarely do incidents of misbehaving foreigners in Thailand – something too numerous to count given the sheer number of tourists and expats in the country – ignite conversations that have broader security and diplomatic implications. Recent reports of ill-mannered conduct by some Israeli nationals, however, appear to be among the rare exceptions.
When the story of four Israeli men storming an emergency room at a hospital in Thailand’s mountainous northern district of Pai broke in early February, it drew significant backlash. Of course, any misbehavior toward medical personnel can easily be considered an unacceptable offense, especially in the context of Thailand’s world-class yet overworked healthcare system having to care for a rapidly ageing population while also treating a surge of overseas patients, notably from war-torn Myanmar.
The Isr
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