Days after Israel marked its 78th Independence Day, its ambassador to the Philippines took a firm public stand on a growing controversy — not to defend her nationals, but to hold them accountable.
Ambassador Dana Kursh, speaking at a media brunch on April 23, made clear that diplomatic protection has limits, and that Israeli tourists who break Philippine laws should face the full consequences, according to Manila Bulletin.
“As an Israeli diplomat in the Philippines, my goal is to protect citizens if they are in distress. But I am saying very loud and clear: If they are misbehaving, that’s not distress… they should be either arrested or punished under the laws of the Philippines,” Kursh said.
The remarks follow viral social media posts documenting alleged misconduct by some Israeli tourists in Siargao, a popular surfing destination. Kursh did not excuse the behavior, though she cautioned against painting all Israeli visitors with the same brush.
“To paint everyone based on a few cases—that is something we should not do,” she said, acknowledging that platforms tend to amplify isolated incidents beyond their actual scale.
Kursh cited bridge-jumping as a specific example of behavior that warrants legal penalties, urging local authorities not to look the other way when safety rules are ignored.
“We want to say this loud and clear: If there is an Israeli tourist who is misbehaving, the relevant Filipino authorities should enforce the law—because they need to enforce the law,” she said.
The ambassador also pushed back on any expectation that her office would intervene on behalf of nationals who run into legal trouble of their own making. She drew a clear line between consular assistance for Israelis in genuine distress and shielding those who simply disregard local rules.
“We are guests here,” Kursh said, describing the Philippines as an “amazing host.” “It is important for everyone to respect culture, religion, and the community if you are coming here,” she added.
Beyond the controversy, Kursh noted the depth of ties between the two countries’ people — including the thousands of Israeli families who have grown close to the relatives of OFWs working in Israel.
“There are thousands of Israelis who come to the Philippines and visit the provinces of OFWs who are taking care of their parents, as they have become like family,” she said. “We cherish the thousands of islands you have here; we cherish the people.”
Kursh said she intends to travel to Siargao to meet with local officials and will work with Israeli media to remind travelers of their obligations under Philippine law.
