Armed with lots of missiles and soldiers

I’m a museum curator based in Europe (very different from the Americas). It’s a wonderful job of travel, being close to history and bringing some goodness into the world, if you don’t mind the salary of working for a charity.

Jew here, and travelled through SE Asia. Israelis have always had a terrible reputation in parts of India and Thailand because after completing military service of 2-3 years, these kids get a lump sum before heading off to careers or university. They spend that money on booze and drugs and get off their faces before heading home to start their lives properly, and this is true of the Israeli Arab kids who serve too, as they are also no longer under the watchful eye of their parents or the military.

It’s not uncommon for youth hostels in Thailand not to allow Israelis in groups to stay there, with signage saying so. Always “Israelis”, never “jews”. I saw a lot of this backpacking maybe 8 years ago.