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Singapore’s order to Israeli embassy to remove Koran-Palestine post reflects ‘heightened sensitivity’
- The issue is sensitive for Singapore’s Malay-Muslims, with many wanting the state to be assertive against Israel over the Gaza war, an analyst says
- It was ‘unwise’ for the Israeli embassy to ‘infuriate its staunchest supporter in Southeast Asia’ over the post, another analyst says
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The Singapore government’s strong reaction to an Israeli embassy Facebook post that was slammed by a top official as an “astonishing attempt to rewrite history” reflects “heightened sensitivity” in the city state on the Gaza war.
The case marked the first time the Singapore government had asked a foreign mission to remove a social media post, Eugene Tan, a law professor at the Singapore Management University, pointed out.
“The Singapore government’s intervention was premised on her sovereign right to ensure law and order and the maintenance of religious harmony in Singapore,” Tan said.
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“This distinction has to be clear so that the basis of the Singapore government’s action is clear and aligned with international law and norms.”
The Israeli embassy published a now-removed post on Sunday containing claims comparing mentions of Israel and Palestine in the Koran on Sunday. It has since “taken action” against the person behind the post, an embassy spokesperson said, in response to media queries.
“The Israel embassy respects religion and racial harmony in Singapore,” the spokesperson said, adding that the social media post was “done without the necessary approvals”.
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