Full Breakdown
Israeli-Led Dance Festival in Thailand Canceled Amid Anti-Israel Incitement
12/29/2025, 7:50:01 AM
Background & Context: The Loop Festival's Origins
The Loop Festival, an electronic music event organized by a group of Israelis living in Pai, Thailand, was designed to foster an international community through music. Founders Eliad Yehuda, Daniel Keizman, and Avihu Reuven spent over a year planning the festival, which successfully launched its first event, attracting hundreds of attendees from Israel and abroad. However, following this success, the organizers faced significant backlash from anti-Israel activists.
Core Event: Cancellations Due to Vandalism and Incitement
The festival's subsequent events were abruptly canceled after organizers encountered a wave of online incitement and vandalism. Social media posts accused them of being "baby killers" and attempting to "take over" the town, leading to a campaign against the festival. This culminated in the destruction of the festival's site, where equipment was stolen, and the venue was set on fire just days before the second event. Local authorities ultimately informed the organizers that future events would not be permitted, despite prior approvals.
Official Statements & Responses
Eliad Yehuda expressed confusion over the sudden change in support from local authorities, stating, “We didn’t understand where this was coming from. Everything was approved... We tried to get answers, but to this day we haven’t received them.” Daniel Keizman noted that the police had not identified the vandals, citing limited resources in the picturesque town. He also mentioned that the local community began to feel threatened by the incitement, which contributed to a loss of support for the festival.
Criticism & Opposition: The Role of Anti-Israel Activism
The organizers attributed the incitement to a coordinated campaign by individuals not residing in Thailand, including support from Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) organizations. Keizman remarked, “It’s important to say that the people who started attacking us are not Thai; they’re people who aren’t even here.” This external influence reportedly escalated the situation, leading to increased pressure on local authorities to act against the festival.
On-the-Ground Reports: Local Sentiment and Future Plans
Despite the challenges, the founders remain committed to their vision. They emphasized their connection to the local community and the values of freedom and love that the festival aimed to promote. Yehuda and Reuven indicated that they are currently assessing their next steps, with plans to potentially hold events in Israel or continue in the East. Reuven stated, “We’re in a period of weighing things and understanding how we come out of this stronger.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the organizers reported a clear campaign against them, the extent of local sentiment towards Israelis remains ambiguous. Keizman noted that the Thai people are generally not political and that their difficulties with Israelis stemmed from the external campaign rather than local attitudes. There is a lack of clarity regarding the specific individuals or groups responsible for the vandalism.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We didn’t understand where this was coming from. Everything was approved, the authorities were aware of everything, we did everything as required. We tried to get answers, but to this day we haven’t received them,” — Eliad Yehuda, Co-founder of Loop Festival
- “It’s important to say that the people who started attacking us are not Thai, they’re people who aren’t even here,” — Daniel Keizman, Co-founder of Loop Festival
- “I think the locals themselves began to feel threatened by all this campaign that was created around us and against us, and naturally, that caused us to lose support. We don’t blame them.” — Daniel Keizman, Co-founder of Loop Festival
