Thais should be ‘Upset with Iran’ for oil price hike, says Israeli envoy
2026-03-10 - 07:34
Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Dr. Alona Fisher-Kamm said on Tuesday that Thais affected by the oil price hike should blame Iran because Iran deliberately destabilised the market. “Thais should be upset with Iran,” said Fisher-Kamm during the Q&A session in response to a question from Khaosod English. “Iran attacked an oil field in Saudi Arabia without any provocation.” She added that economic infrastructures have also been affected, including oil transport ships through the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran is using all its tools or its cards. They don’t really care about the stability of the world... They don’t care about their own people. Why would they care about Thailand?” On how long the war against Iran will continue, Fisher-Kamm told reporters that “it will continue as much as necessary to eliminate the existential and permanent threat coming from Iran.” At the end of the press conference, the Israeli Ambassador added, however, that she sees this war as a “gateway to peace.” “I wish that this war will be over. This is a gateway for peace and not an endless war.” During the hour-long press conference in Bangkok, the Israeli Ambassador touched upon and answered wide-ranging issues. Justifying the war Fisher-Kamm said the Iranian government poses a “permanent and existential” threat to Israel, particularly three specific threats: nuclear, long-range ballistic missiles, and “terror through proxies” such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels. “Iran is a danger to the stability and safety of the world... The fact that they have decided to attack Cyprus and Turkey [proves it].” Regime Change She said the aim is regime change, but it will ultimately be up to the Iranian people themselves. “This is a long process to be taken by the Iranian people. We are facilitating a process for regime change in Iran.” She added, however, that the fact that a new Iranian Supreme Leader was chosen, and is the son of the late Supreme Leader, shows that the Iranian government “doesn’t have a second thought about the direction they are going to take.” When questioned about the attack on the school in Minab that killed nearly 160 schoolgirls, Fisher-Kamm said the matter is still under investigation. “Of course the girl’s school is not a target. We have our own rules. It will take what it takes to eliminate the threat.” Not an Enemy of Iranian People The Ambassador stressed that this is a war against “the regime in Iran” and “not against the Iranian people.” She added that prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Israel had no conflict with Iran. She added that the Iranian government has lost its legitimacy internally and externally. Calling it a “fanatic regime”, the Israeli Ambassador pointed to the killings of “about 35,000 of its own citizens.” “We have a very narrow window of opportunity to act in Iran,” she said, adding that the Iranian people have the opportunities to take the matter into their hands.” When why the Israeli Embassy Facebook page doesn’t permit comments now “We are not against criticism, but we don’t have tolerance for fake news and hate messages. There is a huge difference between criticism and fake news and hatred.” On Thai workers in Israel Fisher-Kamm said there are about 50,000 Thai migrant workers in Israel and none has expressed the wish to return home to Thailand, and this means they feel confident about the safety and protection afforded by the Israeli government, including Thai-language assistance. On Israeli tourists and expats in Thailand Fisher-Kamm said in 2025, some 425,000 Israeli citizens visited Thailand, constituting 5 per cent of Israel’s population. “This is something really amazing. “[They come here] because they feel safe here. Because they feel welcomed here. These people come here because they were looking for a peaceful place... Not because they want to import the conflict here.”