Illegal arms, public sex: Israelis tourists arrested in Thailand – The New Arab

Report on Incidents Involving Israeli Nationals in Thailand and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Challenges to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

A series of recent incidents involving Israeli nationals in Thailand highlights significant challenges to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. These events underscore threats to public safety, the rule of law, and international justice mechanisms.

• Illicit Arms Flows (Target 16.4): An Israeli tourist, age 26, was arrested at Phuket International Airport for illegal possession of ammunition. Authorities discovered a magazine with 29 military-grade bullets in his luggage. This act directly contravenes efforts to significantly reduce illicit arms flows. The individual faces a potential prison term of up to ten years under Thai law.
• Rule of Law and Access to Justice (Target 16.3): Thai authorities have taken action to uphold national laws in several cases.
  1. An Israeli citizen, Osher Farhi, wanted in Israel for armed robbery, was apprehended by Thai authorities, demonstrating international cooperation in combating transnational crime.
  2. An Israeli couple was arrested and charged for committing obscene acts at a public waterfall in Surat Thani, reinforcing the application of local laws to maintain public order.
• Accountability for International Crimes (Target 16.3): The Hind Rajab Foundation has called upon Thai authorities to detain an Israeli national, Omri Nir, who was visiting the country. Nir is reportedly subject to a war crimes complaint filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC), linking local law enforcement actions to broader goals of international justice and accountability.

Impact on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The conduct of some tourists has created friction with local populations, impacting the goal of making communities inclusive, safe, and sustainable (SDG 11). The incidents raise concerns about the social sustainability of tourism and the protection of local heritage.

• Community Safety and Inclusivity (Target 11.7): Local businesses and residents in Surat Thani province filed a petition for authorities to address “Israeli activities causing distress to local communities.” This indicates a breakdown in social cohesion and highlights the need to ensure safe and welcoming public spaces for all.
• Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage (Target 11.4): The incident involving an Israeli couple engaging in sex acts at the Wang Sai waterfall, a public natural site, sparked local outrage. Such behavior disrespects and potentially degrades natural heritage sites, which SDG 11 seeks to safeguard.

Considerations for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

While tourism is a key economic driver, these events demonstrate how unsustainable tourism practices can undermine the objectives of SDG 8, particularly Target 8.9, which aims to devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

• Sustainable Tourism: An estimated 460,000 Israelis visit Thailand annually. However, public confrontations, such as a viral video of an Israeli tourist shouting “My money builds your country” at a restaurant employee, reveal tensions that threaten the long-term sustainability of the tourism relationship. Such conflicts can harm the reputation of the local tourism industry and disrupt decent work for local employees.

Bilateral Cooperation in line with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

In response to the escalating issues, diplomatic engagement has been initiated, reflecting the principles of SDG 17, which emphasizes partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.

• Strengthening Partnerships (Target 17.16): A meeting was held between Israel’s ambassador to Thailand and the governor of Surat Thani province. The purpose was to discuss the ongoing issues involving Israeli nationals, representing a crucial step in bilateral cooperation to find solutions that align with the host country’s laws and sustainable development objectives.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on issues of crime, law enforcement, and international cooperation in justice. The text details multiple instances of Thai authorities enforcing national laws, dealing with criminal acts committed by foreign nationals, and cooperating on international justice matters. The incidents described, such as the illegal possession of military-grade ammunition, the arrest of a fugitive wanted for armed robbery, and the call to detain an individual accused of war crimes, all fall directly under the purview of promoting peace, ensuring justice, and maintaining the rule of law through strong institutions like the police and judiciary.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

   The article connects to this target through the incidents involving potential violence. The discovery of “29 5.56 military-grade bullets” in a tourist’s luggage highlights a direct threat to safety and a form of illicit arms trafficking that this target aims to reduce. Additionally, the apprehension of a citizen “wanted in his home country in connection to armed robbery” and the call to detain an individual subject to a “war crimes complaint” are actions aimed at holding perpetrators of violence accountable and preventing future violence.

2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

   This target is demonstrated by the application of Thai law to foreign nationals. The article reports that the tourist with ammunition was “charged with illegal possession,” the couple at the waterfall were “charged with ‘jointly committing a shameful act in public’,” and the fugitive was apprehended by “Thai authorities.” These actions show the promotion and enforcement of the rule of law at the national level. The call by the Hind Rajab Foundation for Thai authorities to detain an individual subject to a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) illustrates an effort to promote the rule of law at the international level.

3. Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime

   The seizure of military-grade ammunition at Phuket International Airport is a direct example of an action that contributes to reducing illicit arms flows. The article states that security found “a magazine containing 29 5.56 military-grade bullets,” which is a clear instance of intercepting the illegal movement of ammunition.

4. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime

   The article highlights international cooperation between Thailand and Israel. The meeting between “Israel’s ambassador to Thailand and the governor of Surat Thani province… to discuss the ongoing issues involving Israeli nationals” is a form of diplomatic cooperation to address crime and public order. Furthermore, the successful apprehension of “22-year-old Israeli citizen Osher Farhi, who is wanted in his home country,” implies a level of international cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries to combat crime.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 16.1:

   • Implied Indicator: Number of individuals apprehended for violent crimes. The article mentions the arrest of a person “wanted in his home country in connection to armed robbery,” which serves as a data point for this indicator.
   • Implied Indicator: Number of individuals investigated for international crimes. The call to detain a person subject to a “war crimes complaint filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC)” implies a process of tracking and potentially acting against individuals accused of major violent crimes.

2. For Target 16.3:

   • Implied Indicator: Number of individuals prosecuted under national law. The article provides several examples: the tourist charged with “illegal possession of ammunition,” and the couple charged with “committing a shameful act in public.” These cases can be counted to measure the application of the rule of law.

3. For Target 16.4:

   • Implied Indicator: Seizures of arms and ammunition. The discovery and seizure of “a magazine containing 29 5.56 military-grade bullets” at an airport is a specific, measurable event that indicates efforts to curb illicit arms flows.

4. For Target 16.a:

   • Implied Indicator: Number of bilateral meetings on crime and security. The meeting between the “Israeli ambassador to Thailand and the governor of Surat Thani province” is an example of such cooperation.
   • Implied Indicator: Number of foreign fugitives apprehended through international cooperation. The arrest of “Osher Farhi, who is wanted in his home country,” is a direct measure of successful international cooperation in combating crime.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newarab.com