Measures to Protect and Strengthen Singapore's Social Compact against Impact of Middle East Tensions

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the escalating tensions in the Middle East affects Singapore's social compact; and (b) how is the Ministry continuing to protect and strengthen that compact.

External developments, especially those as emotionally charged as the conflict in the Middle East, often spill across borders. They cause tensions between people who feel differently about and who identify with different sides of the issue.

Singapore has been affected by such forces as well. We see in particular a divide in the reactions between the Malay/Muslim community and the Jewish and Christian communities. Many in the Malay/Muslim community see the injustice in what is happening in Gaza. The Jewish community, meanwhile, feels deeply the pain inflicted by Hamas' act of terror on 7 October 2023 as well as the threat it poses to the security of Israel. There are sections of the Christian community who feel that any attack on Israel is an attack on Christianity – not all Christians feel this way, but some have expressed these views. Other communities may also empathise with one side of the conflict more than the other.

Deeply held feelings can also result in words or actions that offend other communities. Between 7 October 2023 and 31 March 2024, the Police received 43 reports regarding alleged offensive remarks or actions targeted at members of the Jewish or Muslim communities in Singapore.

The Government will intervene against acts which can affect our social harmony. Laws, such as the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, Penal Code and the Protection from Harassment Act, draw boundaries of what is acceptable conduct.

In this context, let me also say something about protests. We have seen how tensions have boiled over in many countries. In Berlin, pro-Palestinian protestors have clashed with the Police, with hundreds of people arrested. At United States (US) universities, exchanges between duelling groups of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine student protestors have become increasingly acrimonious. Students on both sides have faced harassment and assault.

Ironically, some of the leading US universities are beginning to say that freedom of expression does not mean that one can say or do anything one wants.

What we see happening in many places overseas is that the protests often become violent. People occupy buildings, prevent others from going about their daily business, cause significant dis-amenities and disruption to the public. And often, that leads to damage and harm. They may start off well-intentioned, led by honest, idealistic people. But then the protests become infiltrated by others with their own agendas. These others try and engineer violence.

The New York Times and other media outlets have run stories on what is happening in the US now. The Mayor of New York has reportedly criticised outside agitators for being on campus grounds training and co-opting the protests. He was concerned with, "young people…being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalising children". The New York Times ran an article, quoting a student saying that a big part of the protests was people coming in from the general Los Angeles area and putting on a demonstration that caused widespread disruption.

There are also reports which deny that outsiders have been significantly involved.

It is difficult to know the true facts. What we can say is this: if we allow protests on this issue, it is likely that there could be some violence, breach of the peace and law, occupying of buildings.

Individuals who engage in offensive or violent conduct are an extremely small minority in our society. We have not had many serious incidents pitting one racial or religious group against another. Most Singaporeans understand the importance of safeguarding our social cohesion and the value of mutual respect and tolerance. Even where views on the conflict have differed, we have been measured and rational in our response.

Beyond the law, we work actively on strengthening our social compact by building mutual trust and understanding across our ethnic and religious communities. At the leadership level, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) facilitate platforms where senior religious and community leaders engage with one another frequently, such as the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony as well as the Racial and Religious Harmony Circles in every constituency.

At the people-to-people level, MCCY provides support for inter-faith and inter-ethnic initiatives that bring different communities together, such as dialogues that encourage mutual understanding and respectful interactions across different communities.

I now turn to the social media post by the Israeli Embassy that was raised by Mr Zhulkarnain. Foreign embassies and diplomatic staff in Singapore enjoy diplomatic immunity under the law, unless they waive it. Among other things, this means that they enjoy immunity from our criminal jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, MHA shared our concerns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which agreed that the post was offside and should be taken down. MFA then engaged the Israeli embassy on the post and requested that it be taken down. The Embassy did so immediately.

Members will remember what I said in public – that the post was completely unacceptable.

The Israeli Ambassador asked to see me. I met him last week. He apologised for the post having been put up. He said it was wrong for the post to have been put up. The post was not authorised and the officer responsible for the post will be sent back. He also said that this would never happen again.

I pointed out to him that Embassies are entitled to have their point of view. But where what has been said affects Singapore, in this case, the harmony and safety in Singapore – especially the security of our minority communities – we have to step in. Posts like these have the potential to create tension between our Jewish and Muslim communities and may also, in particular, put the security of our Jewish community at risk.

The Police received a report on the post. The Police, in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers, have assessed that no further action was to be taken. The Israeli Embassy's actions are covered by the principle of Sovereign Immunity.