Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has denied as groundless viral claims that Israelis have taken over Pai district in Mae Hong Son.
She also said reports claiming that signboards there stated 'No locals allowed' were incorrect.
Meanwhile the Mae Hong Son governor has contradicted viral online reports claiming that tens of thousands of Israelis have settled in the popular tourist district of Pai, causing a nuisance and irritating the locals.
The reports also claimed that the number of tourists from this Middle Eastern country now outnumber local Thais.
Governor Ekkawit Meepian explained that about 38,000 Thais live in Pai, while the number of foreigners who arrived and departed throughout last year was 30,000, adding that topping the list of foreigners visiting Pai last year were the British, followed by Israelis.
Officials have visited the synagogue, or Chabad, in the district and found that it was merely a place of worship, where up to 600 Jews gather every Friday and Saturday for religious rites and meals. There is no use of a public address system, as some people have claimed.
No activities there violate the law, the governor said.
The synagogue has been the subject of the most complaints from locals, for allegedly being the source of excessive noise.
Earlier reports cited information from a TikTok user, which claimed that the trouble caused by Israelis included smoking weed in the hospital and on the streets.
The situation is exacerbated by reports of Israelis allegedly intentionally breaching traffic regulations.
In Pai, which is a haven for backpackers, sign boards which read “No Israel Here” [sic] have started appearing at several stores and businesses, indicative of the resentment felt by locals towards the Israeli visitors.
The governor also revealed that, so far, there have been no reports of Israelis committing criminal offences, other than four who had behaved inappropriately in the hospital.
Their visas have already been revoked and they have left Thailand.
