A routine outing by Israeli travelers on the island of Siargao in the Philippines turned into a legal ordeal after two young men were arrested for jumping off a bridge, with a local Chabad emissary claiming the incident was unwarranted and reflective of broader tensions.

In an interview with Ami Maimon on the “Chidudon” program on Kol Berama radio, Rabbi Mendel Spindler, director of the Chabad House on the island, detailed the circumstances surrounding the arrests, which took place this past Sunday.

According to Rabbi Spindler, the two Israelis were detained after jumping from a bridge at a popular tourist site. He stressed that, contrary to initial reports, there were no signs at the location prohibiting such activity, and that both tourists and locals regularly engage in similar jumps.

“This is pure harassment of two innocent Israelis,” Rabbi Spindler said in the interview. “The local police decided to enforce the law more strictly דווקא now, apparently due to the large number of Israeli tourists and the rise in antisemitism around the world following the war. They took two scapegoats to make an example.”

The situation was further complicated by the timing of the arrest, which occurred on Sunday, a day when government and judicial offices in the Philippines are closed. Rabbi Spindler, who is well known at the local police station, said he rushed to the scene upon hearing of the incident and attempted to secure their release, but was unsuccessful.

“They told me there was nothing to discuss and refused to release them until a lawyer arrived and filed a formal protocol,” he recounted to Ami Maimon. With all offices closed, the process dragged on for several difficult days for the detainees.

During the interview, Rabbi Spindler noted that the Chabad House in Siargao, which has been operating for about two and a half years, hosted approximately 1,100 participants at its most recent Pesach Seder—an immense logistical undertaking in such a remote location.

At the same time, he reported an increase in antisemitic responses on the Chabad House’s social media platforms, including hostile comments and anti-Israel rhetoric.

To counter this atmosphere, he said the Chabad House has been working to serve as a positive force in the community through outreach efforts such as food distribution and beach cleanups, aiming to improve the image of Israelis on the island.

{Matzav.com}