Surge in hostile incidents against Singapore’s Jewish community linked to Middle East conflict

Key Concepts

Chased El Synagogue: A historic synagogue in Singapore, celebrating its 120th anniversary, symbolizing the long history of the Jewish community in the nation.
Multi-religious Landscape: Singapore's diverse society, where different religious communities contribute to its richness.
Outsized Contribution: The significant impact of the Jewish community on Singapore's development in various sectors despite its small size.
Anti-Israel Vulgarities: Offensive and hateful language directed against Israel, found vandalized in school toilets.
Visible Markers of Religion: Religious attire or symbols that make individuals identifiable by their faith, such as the Jewish skull cap (kippah).
Islamophobic Expressions: Discriminatory and hostile sentiments or actions directed against Muslims.
Malayu Sooong Hamas: Graffiti found in public toilets, translating to "Malay support Hamas," indicating a concerning trend of religious and political polarization.
Terror Attacks and Acts of Violence: Serious incidents occurring overseas that target both Jewish and Muslim communities.
Cohesive and Harmonious Society: The decades-long effort in Singapore to build a society where all communities can coexist peacefully and feel safe.
Anti-Semitism: Hostility towards or discrimination against Jews.
Illegal Settlements: Israeli settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal under international law.
Online Sphere Incidents: Unacceptable and hateful comments and suggestions made online related to a fundraising event.
Minorities Will Suffer: The consequence of escalating conflicts where larger, more organized groups tend to prevail, leaving minorities vulnerable.
Multi-racialism and Multi-religiosity: The foundational principles of Singapore's society, emphasizing diversity and inclusivity.

Summary

Engagement with the Jewish Community and Addressing Incidents

The meeting took place at the Chased El Synagogue, marking its 120th anniversary and highlighting the enduring presence of the Jewish community in Singapore. The Jewish community, though small, has made significant contributions to the nation's development. The purpose of the meeting was to address feedback from the Jewish community regarding the impact of overseas events on their lives in Singapore. They have experienced unpleasant incidents and hostility, both online and offline, leading to feelings of insecurity.

Specific Incidents and Trends

The Ministry has observed worrying developments:

September: Toilets in international schools with Jewish students were vandalized with anti-Israel vulgarities.
October: A member of the Jewish community wearing a kippah was shouted at by a passing motorist with "Free Palestine" in Singapore.
Late October: A Singaporean Chinese man wearing a cap with a patch resembling the Israeli flag was assaulted by a Malay man. Police are investigating, and while explanations may exist, the trend is considered worrying.
Last Month: A Catholic member of the public reported being condemned by a couple for not doing enough for Palestinians.
Since October 7th Attacks: There has been an increase in Islamophobic expressions, including graffiti in public toilets stating "Malayu Sooong Hamas" (Malay support Hamas). These incidents are being investigated by the police.

The Minister emphasized that individuals displaying visible markers of their religion should not feel targeted. These negative experiences have also extended to other Singaporeans, demonstrating a broader societal concern.

Government Response and Maintaining Harmony

The Minister assured that while the situation overseas is more serious with terror attacks and violence, the situation in Singapore is "very much under control." The government's proactive approach, including speaking out against incidents, engaging with communities, and taking action, is crucial in "nipping it in the bud."

Historical Precedents:

December 2020: A young Singaporean Christian boy was detained for detailed plans to attack Muslims at two mosques.
March 2021: A Singaporean Muslim boy was detained for intending to attack Jews outside the synagogue on Waterloo Street.

These past incidents underscore the government's commitment to ensuring the safety of all communities, regardless of their size or religious affiliation. Places of worship should remain accessible, and all Singaporeans should feel safe and secure, which is fundamental to the cohesive and harmonious society built over decades.

The Minister reiterated his strong condemnation of the pork delivered to mosques in September and his visit to the al-istiqamah mosque as part of the government's action. Similarly, his presence at the synagogue aims to make it clear that acts of anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in Singapore.

Principles of Fairness and Respect

Singapore's laws and norms are based on the principle that everyone, regardless of race or religion, must be treated fairly, allowed to practice their religion freely, and protected from discrimination, harassment, and violence. All Singaporeans, irrespective of their feelings towards Palestine or Israel, must feel safe and respected within the country.

Philan Hotel Fundraising Event and Conditions

Regarding the Philan Hotel's decision to host a fundraising event for "Friends of Israel Galadina," the Minister acknowledged the understandable sentiments of people who are unhappy if funds are channeled towards Jewish resettlement in occupied Palestinian territories. Singapore's position is that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, and funds from Singapore should not be used for them.

Conditions Imposed:

Funds raised cannot be used for the resettlement of Jews in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Funds cannot be used to support any military or combat operations, directly or indirectly.

These conditions align with Singapore's long-standing stance on the issue.

Unacceptable Online Behavior

The online sphere saw unacceptable calls, including suggestions to poison food at the dinner and to invite a Palestinian terrorist group or hold the event in front of an incinerator, alluding to the Holocaust. Such actions are deemed unacceptable.

Preventing Escalation and Protecting Minorities

The Minister warned that when one side applies pressure, the opposite camp will react, and in such scenarios, larger and better-organized groups tend to win, leading to minorities suffering. An example was given of a church that wanted to speak out against the cancellation of the dinner. While they felt strongly, advising them against it prevented the issue from escalating into a Christian versus Muslim conflict. This highlights the importance of careful consideration and advice from the government to maintain inter-community harmony.

Ensuring Safety and Community Leadership

The safety of the Jewish community is ensured through:

Legal Framework: Clear laws and their enforcement.
Harmonious Society: Decades of government and community efforts to create a peaceful and harmonious society.
Swift Action: Prompt responses to incidents to maintain balance.

The Minister's engagement with the Jewish community is part of these efforts.

Differentiating Religion from Political Actions

Government and community leaders have a responsibility to help Singaporeans understand the distinction between religion (e.g., Judaism) and political actions overseas. Religious leaders and community leaders must reiterate commitments to multi-racialism and multi-religiosity, emphasizing that Singaporeans do not bring foreign conflicts into the country. Support for communities like the Palestinians is provided through fundraising and scholarships, but this does not involve targeting other Singaporeans. Conditions are imposed on fundraising to ensure compliance with international law, such as not allowing funds for illegal settlements.