Israeli woman accused of claiming hotel as her own faces deportation from Thailand

Thai immigration police have revoked an Israeli woman's visa and detained her pending deportation after she allegedly threatened national park staff and ordered hotel guests out on Koh Phangan. The woman, identified by authorities as Enav Ashual, 33, entered Thailand on a tourist visa on Sept. 26, Khaosod English reported on Oct. 27, citing police.On Oct. 18, at Phaeng Waterfall in Than Sadet National Park, she allegedly shouted abuse, threatened to assault park staff and ordered other visitors to leave, police said.On Oct. 21, she allegedly caused a disturbance at a hotel on the island, verbally abusing staff and telling guests to leave while claiming the property was her private hotel.A committee that screens the conduct of foreigners on Koh Phangan, also accused her of refusing to pay for accommodation and entrance fees at the national park, the Bangkok Post reported.It recommended revoking her permission to stay, citing public order and the island's tourism image.Pol. Maj. Gen. Chutharet Yingyongdamrongsakul, commander of Immigration Division 6, approved the revocation, and Surat Thani immigration officers served the order and detained her.Immigration officials are preparing to deport her to Israel and are seeking to ban her from re-entering Thailand.She is the third Israeli on Koh Phangan to have a visa withdrawn, and 10 foreigners on the island have had their visas revoked since January, Thai media said. A view of Koh Phangan, Thailand. Photo by Robert Eklund/Unsplash Regulations that took effect in late August in Thailand set out procedures for deporting foreigners whose conduct is deemed to threaten public order, the Bangkok Post reported.In September, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told provincial governors and district chiefs they need not wait for errant foreigners to be punished in Thailand before removing them, saying keeping them in the country used up national resources.Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met Israeli Ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm on Sept. 8 over concerns about the conduct of some Israeli visitors and business operators. "Any foreigner who violates Thai law will face strict enforcement," he said afterward, stressing that this was not discrimination, Khaosod English reported.Thailand recorded more than 277,000 Israeli arrivals from January to August this year, up about 7% year on year, Thai Examiner reported, citing Tourism Ministry figures.