Einav Ashuel: Koh Phangan District Chief Chairs Panel Pushing For Her Visa Revocation

Koh Phangan district authorities have recommended revoking the visa of an Israeli visitor over alleged conduct toward hotel staff and other tourists.

The Special Committee for Reviewing the Behavior of Foreign Nationals on Koh Phangan made the recommendation on Thursday. The group named Einav Ashuel, a 33-year-old woman, as the subject of the action. Local police had previously logged two formal complaints against her.

District administration officials stated that Ashuel used services without payment during visits to Than Sadet National Park and a local hotel. The complaints alleged she shouted, cursed, and insulted employees. They also claimed she threatened physical harm to staff and tourists.

District Chief Paisit Thongcharoen chaired the Thursday meeting where the decision was finalized. Local police commanders and representatives from immigration and tourist police attended the session. The committee formally referred the case to immigration police for further processing. Authorities have not yet confirmed if the visa has been cancelled or if Ashuel has been deported.

This action is part of a series of enforcement measures targeting foreign visitors in Thailand's island destinations. In late March, the same committee recommended revoking the visas of three Israelis who distributed Chabad Messianic flags and leaflets on Koh Tao. A report from a Chabad website indicated those three individuals were subsequently deported.

In September, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed a deportation order for Israeli citizen Yaakov Ohayon. A court had suspended his 15-day prison sentence and fined him 5,000 baht after he made threats during a zoo dispute on Koh Samui. A deportation order was also issued against the French owner of the zoo involved in the same incident.

The enforcement trend extends beyond Israeli nationals. In early April, the Koh Phangan district chief reported that visas for 13 foreign tourists were revoked for inappropriate behavior. The Israeli Embassy in Bangkok issued a travel warning in May, advising citizens in Phuket to follow local rules as officials imposed stricter penalties for violations.