Israeli and French men face visa revocation after Koh Samui flag dispute

Surat Thani officials are seeking the visa revocation and deportation of an Israeli restaurant businessman and a French national after a dispute involving a Palestinian flag escalated on Koh Samui.

Colonel Thitiphong Inwasa, deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command in Surat Thani, said on 22 August that the dispute involved Jacob, an Israeli businessman, and Kevin, a French national who operates Samui Exotic Park.

Thitiphong said the dispute began after Israeli tourists visited the park and became involved in an argument with Kevin, who displayed a Palestinian flag and a sign welcoming Palestinians. Jacob later asked Kevin through an online chat to remove the flag, but Kevin refused. Their exchange was shared on social media and led to a police complaint.

Officials unsuccessfully attempted to mediate and have the flag removed. The situation escalated after an Israeli influencer based in France allegedly offered a B500,000 bounty for Kevin.

The Koh Samui Provincial Court fined Jacob B5,000 and gave him a suspended prison sentence with a two-year suspension period, according to the report.

Thitiphong said the dispute had created perceptions that Israelis were threatening people on Koh Samui and that residents did not welcome Israeli tourists. He said the original conflict was personal but that anti-Israel sentiment was being used as leverage, raising concerns that it could develop into a religious dispute.

Security officials are gathering information for submission to a provincial committee considering the visa revocation and deportation of both men. Thitiphong said the action was being considered because both sides had failed to co-operate and had contributed to tensions that could expand into religious and racial conflict.

Police have maintained checkpoints outside Samui Exotic Park and at both men’s residences since 15 August as a precaution against violence while the dispute remains unresolved.

Surat Thani Immigration found that Jacob had lived on Koh Samui for five years on a business visa and operated a restaurant. Kevin, whose Thai wife is from Rayong province, had lived on the island for about nine years and operated Samui Exotic Park.