Singapore's Jewish community facing acts of hostility linked to Middle East conflict, says Shanmugam

SINGAPORE: Members of the Jewish community in Singapore have faced “unpleasant incidents, hostility, both online and offline”, prompting fears about their safety amid global tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.

Speaking at the Chesed-El Synagogue on Thursday (Nov 6) during its 120th anniversary celebration, Mr Shanmugam said Jewish residents now feel "less secure".

"I came here today because there has been feedback from the Jewish community about how reactions in Singapore ... to events overseas have impacted the lives of some members of the Jewish community," he said.

Mr Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, cited several recent incidents.

In September, toilets in some international schools in Singapore were vandalised with anti-Israel vulgarities. Jewish students are enrolled in these schools.

Last month, a passing motorist shouted "free Palestine" at a member of the Jewish community who was wearing a skullcap, or kippah, on the way to the synagogue at Waterloo Street.

"In Singapore, followers of any faith who wear visible markers of their religion ... should never be made to feel targeted based on their religion," said Mr Shanmugam.

He also shared an example of a Malay man assaulting a Chinese man who was wearing a cap with a patch resembling the Israeli flag.

"Police are investigating. We don't yet know the full facts, why the man did what he did ... but it's a worrying trend," he said.

The government has also received a report of a Catholic person being condemned by a couple "in the name of God" for not doing anything for the Palestinians.

Late last year, there were incidents of graffiti in public toilets that said Malays support Hamas. 

Mr Shanmugam said police are also investigating this and that all incidents are taken seriously.

"All our communities, regardless of race and religion, have the right to feel safe in Singapore ... regardless of the size of their communities," he said. 

"Their places of worship - we cannot make them into fortresses. They have to be freely accessible, but at the same time, Singaporeans of all faiths should be able to go about their lives feeling safe and secure."

Members of the Jewish community told CNA that they feel safe in Singapore and are happy with how the government has managed tensions.

Ms Leeran Gold Isaac, 35, said she is grateful she can wear a Star of David necklace in Singapore without fear of being targeted, while she sometimes tries to hide it when overseas.

Commenting on the incident where a passing motorist shouted at a Jewish man, she said it is the kind of behaviour that people might not report to the authorities in other countries because it happens so frequently there.

"But here, it's taken so seriously, and the comfort of the community, the safety of the community is really well considered."

She also said she wonders what the passing motorist hoped to gain from that interaction, instead of having a meaningful conversation.

"Confronting someone aggressively; it's not going to help anyone," she said.

Another member of the community, who wanted to be known only as Adam, said everyone is entitled to their own opinions but should express them peacefully and without violence.

He believes the Singapore government has done a good job of managing ethnic diversity well.

"People are very sensible about it here," he said.

Mr Shanmugam also weighed in on a recent fundraising event by a pro-Israel group that sparked backlash from some quarters.

He said the Friends of Israel group can continue its fundraising activities, but must adhere to conditions on how the money is used.

"The government has said the funds raised cannot be used for the resettlement of Jews in the occupied Palestinian territories," said Mr Shanmugam. "The funds also cannot be used to support military or combat operations, directly or indirectly."

Mr Shanmugam was referring to the furore over a Friends of Israel gala dinner that was initially scheduled to be held at Fullerton Hotel. The hotel later declined to host the event.

The minister said Singapore's position is that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, and he understands why some people would be unhappy if money raised in Singapore were channelled to such causes.

But some reactions online were "unacceptable", he said.

There were calls for the food at the dinner to be poisoned, for a Palestinian terrorist group to be invited and for the event to be held in front of an incinerator, seemingly alluding to the Holocaust, said Mr Shanmugam.

"When one side seeks to apply pressure, the opposite camp will inevitably react. And remember, if that happens, it is the largest and best organised groups that will win and minorities will suffer," he said. 

In the case of the gala dinner, a church wanted to speak out against the cancellation.

"They felt very strongly about it. But you know, if they went ahead and said that, and if that got broad support among the Christian community, that would then have become a Christian versus Muslim issue," he said.

The church eventually heeded advice from the Ministry of Home Affairs not to comment on the cancellation.

Mr Shanmugam also said that Singapore has raised substantial amounts of funds for Palestinians, and has scholarships for them to come to Singapore, but Singaporeans should not target other Singaporeans.

"We don't bring in foreign conflicts to be against each other. And what happens overseas shall remain overseas."

"NO PLACE HERE" FOR RELIGIOUS HOSTILITY

Religious organisations in Singapore said they were saddened and troubled to hear of incidents affecting the Jewish community.

The Singapore Buddhist Federation said the Jewish community has contributed to aspects of Singapore's development before and after independence.

"We urge all Singaporeans and residents, regardless of race and religion, to uphold and respect our diversity," the federation said.

The National Council of Churches of Singapore said it is essential that every person and every religious group be able to worship, live and gather without fear. 

"We affirm the importance of upholding equal protection and respect for all," it said in a statement.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese called the recent incidents "unacceptable", and said acts intended to deliberately create division and foster ill-will between communities have "no place in Singapore".

Singapore's harmony remains a work in progress, but is a "precious achievement" which must be safeguarded at all cost, said the Centre for Interfaith Understanding.

In a statement posted on social media on Friday, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said that Singapore must not allow the "rising wave of Islamophobia and antisemitism globally" to weaken the bonds of friendship, collective spirit and unity that were "painstakingly built between our communities in Singapore".

"We must therefore double down on our efforts to prevent these trends from taking root here, and remain guided by mutual respect, empathy, and compassion in how we treat others. These are the values that have held our society together through thick and thin," said Muis.

"Together with the relevant authorities and under the rule of law, we must ensure that our response to any form of hatred targeted at any religious group in Singapore remains firm and decisive, so that our social cohesion is protected at all costs."

The Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League said external developments should not divide the country or threaten anyone's safety in Singapore.

"While we condemn violence and atrocities happening around the world, we must also take heed in our own actions, to protect the peace we have painstakingly built together, as Singaporeans, over the many decades," it said on Facebook.

Social cohesion is a shared responsibility, said Jamiyah Singapore, adding that it is committed to fostering goodwill and friendship, urging Singaporeans to do their part.

"Hate speech, religious hostility and extremism of any form have no place here," said Jamiyah Singapore.