A Chabad House that opened about a month ago in southern Sri Lanka to serve Israeli tourists in the area has become the target of attacks and threats in recent days from some local residents, Ynet reported.

A protest led by Buddhist monks and residents was held against the Chabad House on Friday night, during which the protesters demanded that the legality of its operations be investigated.

The Chabad House, located in the village of Hiriketiya, southern Sri Lanka, operates a kosher restaurant, holds Shabbos meals and serves as a ‘home away from home’ for Israeli travelers. However, residents justify their protest against the site by claiming that “unwanted religious and commercial activity” is taking place there.

This past Shabbos, during the Friday night meal, Buddhist monks and residents held a noisy protest near the Chabad House and harassed those at the site, playing loud music, throwing firecrackers into the courtyard, and hurling stones at the building.

In addition, Israelis on the way to the site to join the Shabbos meal were stopped by protesters and ordered to turn back. The protesters even set off firecrackers near some of the guests in an effort to frighten them and prevent them from reaching the site.

The protest escalated after Shabbos ended, when several Israelis leaving the Chabad House were threatened with sticks.

A spokesperson from the Chabad House told Ynet that they are concerned that the incidents will escalate without immediate intervention. “The Chabad House was opened to serve Israeli tourists in Hiriketiya, allow them to eat kosher food and provide them with a warm and safe place far from home,” an official there said. “Now we need urgent help so we can continue operating safely.”

Chabad House officials called on the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy and the authorities in Sri Lanka to immediately intervene, provide a permanent security presence around the site, and carry out an investigation on the violence and threats. “We must not wait until a disaster occurs. Immediate action is needed to protect the Israelis and the Chabad House and ensure that every traveler can reach the site safely,” officials at the Chabad House in southern Sri Lanka said.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)