Israeli embassy told to take down 'completely unacceptable' Facebook post on Palestine: Shanmugam

SINGAPORE: The Singapore government has told the Israeli embassy here to take down a "completely unacceptable" Facebook post on Palestine, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.

On Sunday (Mar 24), the official Facebook account of the Israeli embassy published a post containing claims comparing mentions of Israel and Palestine in the Quran.

The post said: "Israel is mentioned 43 times in the Quran. On the other hand, Palestine is not mentioned even once.

"Each and every archeological evidence – maps, documents, coins, link the land of Israel to the Jewish people as the indigenous people of the land."

The post was deleted later the same day.

Mr Shanmugam told reporters on Monday he was "very upset" when he became aware of the post.

He said the Home Affairs Ministry (MHA) had informed the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which told the Israeli embassy that the post had to be taken down immediately.

"The post is wrong at many levels," Mr Shanmugam said. "First, it is insensitive and inappropriate. It carries the risk of undermining our safety, security and harmony in Singapore.

“We look after the safety of everyone in Singapore – majority and minorities" including Jews and Muslims, he said.

Pointing out that Jews in Singapore have "very little concern for their safety and security", he said posts like this can “inflame tensions and can put the Jewish community here at risk".

"The anger from the post can potentially spill over into the physical realm."

POST MADE WITHOUT APPROVAL: ISRAELI EMBASSY

On Monday, a spokesperson from the Israeli embassy said that the post had been made without approval and that the person responsible has been punished.

"The Israel Embassy respects religion and racial harmony in Singapore," the spokesperson said. "We have already taken action against the relevant person."

The embassy cited "security reasons" for not revealing the person's name or role.

"However, we assure you that the social media post that had gone up was done without the necessary approvals and the person responsible has already been harshly punished and will face internal disciplinary measures," the spokesperson said.

Speaking at an iftar (break fast) session at Khalid Mosque in Joo Chiat on Monday evening, Mr Shanmugam noted the Israeli embassy had said that the post was not authorised.

"They didn’t know about it, somebody put it up, and they will take severe action against the person who put it up," he said.

"So, in a way, that is good because they accept that the post was wrong in the first place and should never have been put up."

"ASTONISHING ATTEMPT TO REWRITE HISTORY"

The Singapore government has made its views on the Facebook post "very clear" to the Israeli embassy, Mr Shanmugam said.

"It is wrong to selectively point to religious texts to make a political point. Even worse, in this current situation, for the Israeli embassy to make use of the Quran for this purpose."

He also called the post an "astonishing attempt to rewrite history".

"The writer of the post should look at UN resolutions, see if Israel's actions in the past few decades have been consistent with international law, before trying to rewrite history."

But Mr Shanmugam stressed that the government did not intervene with the post on that basis, but because of the potential consequences for the different communities in Singapore.

He added that embassies may put out statements that the government disagrees with, and it generally does not intervene as the embassies represent sovereign countries.

"They have autonomy. But where it affects the safety and security of people in Singapore, the peace and harmony that we enjoy, we do and we will intervene," said the minister.

CNA has asked MHA whether further actions against the author of the embassy's post are being considered.

In a separate statement to the media, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said: “It is highly inappropriate to refer to sacred texts to make political points. We have made this clear to the embassy which has taken the post down.”

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said the embassy's post was "insensitive and disrespectful", and could sow distrust among different communities.

"Nobody should make interpretations that are offensive to another people’s faith, especially selectively using their sacred texts, to make political points," he wrote on Monday in a Facebook post, in English and Malay.

He added: "I was very upset when I saw this post, and understand that others in our community also felt aggrieved.

"But I urge everyone to remain calm and civil and continue to preserve the trust, peace and harmony between our communities."

Singapore's government has consistently supported a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, aligning with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The embassy's post came days after Dr Balakrishnan completed working visits to Israel and the Palestinian territories, during which he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

In his meetings with Israeli leaders, Dr Balakrishnan said he had told them that their military actions in Gaza have "gone too far".