SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Law and Home Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam, has strongly condemned a recent social media post by Israel’s Embassy in Singapore.
The post attempted to justify Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands and ongoing attacks on Gaza by citing religious references. Minister Shanmugam labeled the post as “completely unacceptable,” highlighting its potential to undermine safety and security in Singapore. He emphasized that such actions are insensitive, inappropriate, and risk inflaming tensions among the diverse communities in Singapore.
The post, which was swiftly removed by the Embassy after drawing criticism, falsely claimed that Israel is mentioned 43 times in the Quran while Palestine is not mentioned once. Minister Shanmugam criticized this assertion as an attempt to rewrite history and urged the Embassy to refrain from using religious texts to make political points.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan echoed similar sentiments, labeling the post as “highly inappropriate.” He emphasized that referring to sacred texts for political purposes is unacceptable and stated that the Embassy has taken down the post following Singapore’s objection.
The controversy comes amid escalating tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Israel facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread destruction, particularly in Gaza, where the majority of the population has been displaced due to the Israeli military offensive.
Singapore’s government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the safety and security of all its citizens, including minority communities like Muslims and Jews. The intervention by Singaporean authorities underscores the importance of responsible diplomatic conduct and respectful engagement in addressing sensitive geopolitical issues.
As the international community closely monitors developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Singapore’s stance reaffirms its commitment to promoting peace, harmony, and respect for international law.
