Pro-Hamas activists hounding Israelis in Thailand score victory

Authorities in northern Thailand shut down planned Israeli dance parties following coordinated harassment campaign and threats by pro-Hamas activists.

By World Israel News Staff

Anti-Israel activists harassing Israelis in Thailand scored a victory this week after local authorities responded to threats and vandalism against an Israeli-organized dance festival by canceling multiple events.

Events planned in the northern Thai town of Pai as part of the Israeli-organized Loop Festival were nixed after the parties were targeted by arsonists and vandals, along with an online campaign of harassment and false accusations against the organizers.

Established by two Israeli nationals in Thailand, Eliad Yehuda and Daniel Keizman, the Loop Festival held two events earlier this year, each drawing hundreds of revelers from Israel and around the world.

However, following the first event, anti-Israel activists initiated a coordinated campaign to get the festival canceled.

Pro-Hamas social media users accused Keizman and Yehuda of being “baby killers,” with some posts suggesting the Israelis were planning to use the festivals as a pretext to take over Pai.

Shortly after the online harassment began, the festival was targeted by vandals who torched promotional materials and equipment.

A break-in at the designated venue for the second event forced Yehuda and Keizman to find an alternative location, where the dance was ultimately held.

Now, however, the pair say Thai authorities are not permitting them to move forward with the remaining events that have been scheduled.

“We didn’t understand where this was coming from,” Yehuda told Israel’s Channel 12. “Everything was approved, the authorities were aware of everything, we did everything as required. We tried to get answers, but to this day we haven’t received them.”

“We are simply a group of people who came together to do good for people, to bring joy, out of a love for music, and our team includes Europeans, Thais, and Australians. We didn’t understand where this came from.”