Pritam Singh on Israel-Hamas conflict
The Workers’ Party (WP) calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the return of hostages taken by the militant group and allowing of humanitarian aid into Gaza, followed by serious negotiations towards a two-state solution. Reiterating points made in a statement released by the party in mid-October, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh said in Parliament on Monday (Nov 6) that the current war is a subset of a larger struggle arising from the absence of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Each time there is an outbreak of hostilities, he said, the impact is “always far more gruesome” on the Palestinian side. Describing Israel’s approach as one that invokes collective punishment in the name of self-defence, he said that far from deterring future attacks on Israel, it gives birth to a new generation of Palestinians seeking vengeance - “some of whom see martyrdom as something to aspire to”. Mr Singh said ordinary Singaporeans troubled and even agitated about the issue have been writing to WP and in the party’s view, one reason for their frustration was the perception of a dominant narrative in the West and other advanced economies to focus on the actions of Hamas without the context of Israel’s subjugation of the Occupied Territories and the impact of its “wanton” expansion of settlements. Mr Singh said the longstanding conflict has contributed to radicalisation and a more unsafe world - a reality that Singaporeans must be aware of and vigilant against. He said Singaporeans “should not analyse a political issue through religious lenses” but rather, see it as a humanitarian issue. Singapore’s contribution, he said, is a humanitarian one - to advocate a halt to the killing, particularly of civilians and children, and support the international community in reaching a lasting settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. He also noted that it is important for Singapore to put on record its firm belief in international law and protections because as a small state, its own survival depends on this. Mr Singh said WP, like the Singapore Government, backs a two-state solution as the only feasible path to a durable, just and comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Workers’ Party (WP) calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the return of hostages taken by the militant group and allowing of humanitarian aid into Gaza, followed by serious negotiations towards a two-state solution. Reiterating points made in a statement released by the party in mid-October, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh said in Parliament on Monday (Nov 6) that the current war is a subset of a larger struggle arising from the absence of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Each time there is an outbreak of hostilities, he said, the impact is “always far more gruesome” on the Palestinian side. Describing Israel’s approach as one that invokes collective punishment in the name of self-defence, he said that far from deterring future attacks on Israel, it gives birth to a new generation of Palestinians seeking vengeance - “some of whom see martyrdom as something to aspire to”. Mr Singh said ordinary Singaporeans troubled and even agitated about the issue have been writing to WP and in the party’s view, one reason for their frustration was the perception of a dominant narrative in the West and other advanced economies to focus on the actions of Hamas without the context of Israel’s subjugation of the Occupied Territories and the impact of its “wanton” expansion of settlements. Mr Singh said the longstanding conflict has contributed to radicalisation and a more unsafe world - a reality that Singaporeans must be aware of and vigilant against. He said Singaporeans “should not analyse a political issue through religious lenses” but rather, see it as a humanitarian issue. Singapore’s contribution, he said, is a humanitarian one - to advocate a halt to the killing, particularly of civilians and children, and support the international community in reaching a lasting settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. He also noted that it is important for Singapore to put on record its firm belief in international law and protections because as a small state, its own survival depends on this. Mr Singh said WP, like the Singapore Government, backs a two-state solution as the only feasible path to a durable, just and comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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