Then-Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel Shlomo Amar hands a Thai boy a present during a toy drive in Phuket established by the Chabad of Thailand to assist children affected by a tsunami, May 8, 2005. Photo: REUTERS/Boonrat Apiwantanakorn

Thailand authorities on Tuesday ordered a full investigation into Chabad Patong, a Jewish community center and Chabad House serving Israelis and other Jewish visitors in Phuket, amid growing questions over the compound’s land ownership, permits, building approvals, and commercial licenses.

At the request of Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom, local authorities were given seven days to submit their findings as part of the probe into the Chabad House, days after a Rosh Hashanah dinner for 2,000 Israeli travelers was abruptly canceled on Friday due to a pro-Palestinian protest that lasted several hours nearby.

Organizers informed hundreds of Israeli guests preparing to attend the Rosh Hashanah dinner that the event had been canceled after Israeli security officials warned that protests surrounding the gathering could escalate into violence.

According to local media reports, approximately 500 Thai residents staged a protest near the Chabad House shortly before the Rosh Hashanah event was scheduled to begin, holding signs reading “Save Phuket, No Israel” and chanting “Free Palestine.”

In the days before the event, protesters repeatedly called for its cancellation, prompting Thai authorities to confirm on Thursday that it would go ahead. Despite the demonstrations, several Rosh Hashanah events proceeded as planned.

Organized by Thai conspiracy theorist Sondhi Limthongkul, hundreds of Thais also rallied against Israeli tourists outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok on Thursday, adding to mounting tensions surrounding the Jewish visitors.

During the demonstration, Limthongkul read out a letter addressed to Israel’s ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm claiming that Chabad centers were buying up Thai land to “advance the objectives orchestrated and funded by international Zionist networks.”

Now, the government’s latest investigation will not only examine the Chabad compound’s land ownership, permits, and licenses, but also review the shareholder records of companies linked to its operation to determine whether they are connected to a company involved in a project to establish a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao province.

Local authorities stressed that the inquiry is focused on reviewing documents and corporate ties, with no finding that any offense has been committed. 

Officials also emphasized that the investigation is not targeting any nationality, religion, or specific community, but rather aims to determine whether the activities and land holdings involved comply with Thai law.

Rabbi Nechemia Wilhelm, Chabad’s emissary in Thailand, defended the organization’s operations and expressed confidence that the investigation would confirm its compliance with Thai law.

“We have been in Thailand for 30 years, and throughout those years we have personally experienced the special hospitality of the Thai people, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence here among people of all religions and nationalities,” Wilhelm said in a statement. 

“Our Chabad Houses are completely legal in every respect. We are very careful to abide by the laws of the country, respect the local authorities and the citizens of Thailand, and therefore we have full confidence that the matters now being examined will be reviewed objectively and will show that everything is in order,” he continued.