Singapore won’t let Israel-Gaza war divide multiracial society, compromise security: Lawrence Wong

The city state’s No 2 leader says Singapore must consistently take a principled position in line with international laws, amid a rise in divisive rhetoric

It is in Singapore’s interest to condemn Hamas’ acts of terrorism and to do otherwise ‘would be to compromise our own security’, Wong adds

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Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says Singapore will continue to take an approach aligned with international laws. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:10pm, 6 Nov 2023Updated: 11:32pm, 6 Nov 2023

Singapore will not allow the Israel-Gaza war to divide its multiracial, multireligious population, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, amid pressure from some segments and on social media for the government to condemn one side over the other.

The city state must “consistently take a principled position, in line with international law and in support of global peace and security”, he said during an hours-long parliamentary session to discuss the conflict.

“On that basis, we have voted in favour of many Palestinian-related resolutions at the UN over the years,” he said, citing how Singapore criticised Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank and voted against a United Nations resolution to declare a unilateral US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“Such moves by Israel detract from the two-state solution, and that’s partly the reason why more and more Palestinians feel that violence is the only way to achieve their goals,” Wong said. “The international community must therefore give Palestinians a reason to think otherwise.”

Most recently, Singapore had voted in support of a UN resolution calling for an immediate and sustained humanitarian truce and assistance for the Israel-Gaza war.