25-3-2024 (SINGAPORE) The Singapore government has instructed the Israeli embassy to remove a Facebook post that sparked controversy, with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam denouncing it as an “astonishing attempt to rewrite history”.
The contentious post, reportedly quoting the Quran and asserting archaeological evidence linking Jewish people to Israel, drew swift condemnation from Minister Shanmugam, who labelled it as “wrong at many levels” and expressed concerns about its potential impact on Singapore’s communities.
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the Israeli embassy’s official Facebook page in Singapore published a post on Sunday (24 March) comparing references to Israel and Palestine in the Quran. The post claimed that Israel was mentioned 43 times while Palestine was not mentioned at all, and cited archaeological evidence supporting Jewish indigenous ties to Israel. The embassy later removed the post on the same day.
Minister Shanmugam addressed the issue during a media briefing on Monday (25 March), expressing his dismay and emphasizing the need for immediate action. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) promptly notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which instructed the Israeli embassy to take down the post without delay.
Describing the post as “completely unacceptable”, Minister Shanmugam stressed its potential to undermine Singapore’s safety, security, and social harmony, highlighting the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all communities, including Jews and Muslims.
He criticised the selective use of religious texts for political purposes, branding it as an inappropriate attempt to rewrite history. Minister Shanmugam also urged the author to consider Israel’s compliance with international law before making such assertions.
While Singapore typically respects the sovereignty of foreign embassies and refrains from intervening in their statements, Minister Shanmugam clarified that the government’s intervention was driven by concerns over the post’s potential repercussions on Singaporean communities.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan echoed Minister Shanmugam’s sentiments, condemning the use of sacred texts for political ends and affirming Singapore’s stance on the matter. The embassy complied with the government’s directive and removed the post from its Facebook page.
