"You are trash": Conflict between Israelis and a tuk-tuk driver sparks a storm in Thailand
An argument that began over the price of a ride in Phuket escalated after a local driver refused to let Israelis join a ride booked by Australian tourists. The driver claims that the family members threatened him and attempted to attack him with a concrete slab. The video of the incident has sparked widespread reactions in local media.
A conflict between an Israeli family and a tuk-tuk driver in Phuket, Thailand, has sparked a storm on social media and in local media. In a video distributed by the driver, a heated argument is seen, during which one of the Israelis is heard cursing the driver in English and saying to him in Hebrew, "You are trash."
According to the driver, the family members threatened him and even attempted to attack him. According to a report by the Thai news site The Thaiger, the incident began when the family members approached the driver to clarify the price of the ride. The parties did not reach an agreement, and the driver continued to wait for other passengers. Later, a couple of Australian tourists arrived and booked a ride to the Bangla area. After they boarded the tuk-tuk, the Israeli family asked again to join the ride. The driver refused and directed them to another vehicle, which led to the argument.
The driver claimed that the family members tried to prevent the Australian couple from leaving and that he intervened to protect his passengers. In the video, five people, reported to be members of the Israeli family, are seen standing next to the tuk-tuk. One of them is heard cursing the driver repeatedly, saying "You are trash" in Hebrew, and is seen spitting on the road. The driver replied that he would not transport passengers who behaved in such a manner.
"During the conflict, threats were made against me, and at one point, one of the family members tried to pick up a concrete slab lying on the side of the road to attack me," the driver stated.
According to The Thaiger, the man failed to lift the slab because it was too heavy, and no physical assault occurred. The driver explained that he published the video because he found the family's behavior inappropriate for tourist sites in Thailand. As of now, no response from the family members has been published, nor has it been reported whether the driver filed a formal complaint with the police.
This incident follows a series of complications involving Israeli tourists in Thailand last year that caused tension with local residents and authorities. In February 2025, the Israeli Embassy in Thailand published a special document of guidelines for travelers, calling on them to respect locals and avoid behavior that could harm the image of Israeli tourists. Previously, the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, Orna Sagiv, visited the town of Pai with senior Thai government officials in an attempt to calm tensions following reports of businesses refusing to serve Israeli tourists.
