The Foreign Ministry has expressed cautious optimism that ongoing diplomatic efforts by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will persuade Thailand's government to reconsider the death penalty for two Israelis convicted of drug smuggling.
Both are facing execution by lethal injection if the Foreign Ministry fails to convince the Thai authorities to commute the sentences for Alon Mahluf, 37, and Vladimir Agronik, 34, to prison terms.
The two were arrested a year ago during a major sting operation on Kao San Road, a popular Israeli tourist hot spot in Bangkok, and charged with possession of some 23,000 Ecstasy pills allegedly destined for delivery to the U.S. and Italy.
"As far as we know, they have appealed against the verdict and we hope they will not be sentenced to death based on the previous experience," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levi. "We are waiting and watching the judicial proceedings very closely, and Foreign Minister Livni has expressed her deep determination to help," he added.
If the death penalty is revoked, Mahluf and Agronik's sentences will be commuted to long prisoner terms, said Levi, which could either be served in Thailand or possibly in Israel. "It could be either of two options," he explained, "based on the extradition agreement we have with Thailand.
"If the appeal is successful, they won't be executed and either they will charge their punishment there or they will be extradited to Israel. Our concern is that they will not be executed," he said. There have been no executions of foreign nationals in Thailand in the past several years, Levi noted.
Travel Warnings to Thailand
The domestic situation in the country is also not entirely stable, according to the ministry spokesman, who said a travel warning for Israelis making plans to visit Thailand was issued yesterday.
"There have been demonstrations for a few days already against the government in a number of areas due to several domestic issues, including disturbances in the airport in Bangkok," according to Levi.
He estmated that there are approximately 10,000 Israelis in the Asian nation, and "huge Boeings are going there every day." The international airport in Bangkok is closed, with all incoming and outgoing domestic and international flights cancelled, he said.
El Al is the only airline still flying in and out of the country, using the old airport in Bangkok and one in Pataya, located two hours away by car.
"We are not yet calling on Israelis to cancel their trips," said Levi, "but today we are making the travel warning sharper and are telling travelers to stay in touch and be aware of the security situation."