SINGAPORE: Marking one year since the Israeli assault on Palestine that claimed over 42,000 lives, on 7 October 2024, pro-Palestinian supporters from Punggol West gathered at a Meet-the-People Session to discuss sanctions against Israel with MP Sun Xueling.

Ms Sun highlighted Singapore’s humanitarian efforts, noting that over S$17 million (approximately US$13 million) had been directed to the region. She called the crisis a “huge human catastrophe” and advocated for an immediate ceasefire.

However, residents questioned the feasibility of a ceasefire given Singapore’s ongoing arms trade with Israel, citing the purchase of Blue Spear missiles for the Navy and the display of Israeli weapons at the Singapore Air Show.  They also pointed out that Israeli defense company Elbit Systems operates in Singapore.

Although Ms Sun was not involved in arms discussions, she promised to raise these concerns with the relevant ministries.

On 2 July 2024, Mr Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from the Progress Singapore Party, asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Singapore had sold any defence materials to Israel since the conflict began on 7 October 2023.

Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan responded that Singapore strictly adheres to international arms sales obligations and submits regular reports to the UN, but does not disclose specifics due to national security reasons. It should be noted that there is no embargo on arms sales to Israel.

On 18 September 2024, Singapore voted in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution A/ES-10/L.31, which called for a halt to imports from Israeli settlements and arms provisions to Israel in situations where they might be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Following this, NCMP Leong filed a question regarding whether Singapore would implement the resolution’s steps.

The session shifted to concerns about a broader conflict, with residents referencing Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon and Syria and questioning whether sanctions were being considered.

Ms Sun acknowledged their fears and affirmed that the crisis in Gaza was unacceptable.

When asked about sanctions, she explained that the Israel-Palestine conflict is more complex than other international issues, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, but assured residents she would relay their concerns to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Residents pressed further, questioning whether Israel’s invasion of Lebanon justified sanctions and expressing frustration about a perceived double standard in how invasions in the Middle East are treated compared to those involving predominantly white countries.

Ms Sun noted that Singapore had previously imposed sanctions in other contexts, such as during the US invasion of Grenada and Vietnam’s incursion into Cambodia, emphasizing that sanctions are not determined by ethnicity.

They also pointed out the inconsistency in Singapore’s approach, highlighting that the country only established diplomatic ties with South Africa after the end of apartheid.

Ms Sun admitted her limited knowledge of this history but promised to raise these examples with the MFA.

The session concluded with residents submitting a petition urging the government to impose sanctions on Israel.

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Netizens criticize Singapore’s stance on Israel

Under a post by Monday of Palestine Solidarity on Instagram, netizens voiced their opinions on the recent dialogue between Punggol West residents and MP Sun Xueling regarding Singapore’s stance on Israel.

One user questioned Ms Sun’s knowledge of the situation in Palestine, asking, “Is she even aware of what’s happening at all?”

They argued that while Ms Sun claimed the scale of the conflict was different from the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in Palestine is actually far worse.

The user criticized her for not using accurate terms to describe the crisis, suggesting she was avoiding terms like “mass murder,” “apartheid,” “genocide,” and “ethnic extermination.”

The commenter also pointed out historical context, referencing a New York Times article from June 20, 1899, titled “Conference of Zionists in Baltimore: Will Colonize Palestine,” to emphasize the long-standing nature of the issue.

They concluded by stating, “Humanitarian aid does NOT stop the killing,” highlighting the need for stronger action.

Another user expressed frustration, calling the government’s response “absolutely unacceptable.”

They criticized Singapore for being one of the top exporters of weapons, which are “being used and tested on Palestinians,” while only offering humanitarian aid and failing to take meaningful action against Israel.

One commenter highlighted the disparity in Singapore’s response, noting that the government had immediately sanctioned Russia when the war in Ukraine began, yet after a year of violence in Palestine, no similar action had been taken against Israel.

Another user challenged the common narrative that the Israel-Palestine conflict is an ancient issue that spans thousands of years, calling it a “lazy excuse for inaction.”

They stressed that Israel has been in violation of international law since its illegal occupation of Palestine and the establishment of apartheid in 1967.

Some users expressed skepticism about Singapore’s ability to take a stronger stance. One commenter argued that Singapore depends on its Zionist allies for security, stating that any action against Israel could jeopardize the country’s safety.

They pointed to the historical ties between Singapore and Israel, particularly in building Singapore’s military, and concluded that speaking out against Israel would endanger Singapore’s security and stability.