Singapore's Jewish community facing acts of hostility linked to Middle East conflict, says Shanmugam
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/shanmugam-israel-palestine-jewish-community-5450406
Singapore's Jewish community facing acts of hostility linked to Middle East conflict, says Shanmugam
"All our communities, regardless of race and religion, have the right to feel safe in Singapore ... regardless of the size of their communities," said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.
Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam speaks to the media at Chesed-El Synagogue on Nov 06, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)
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."
LIMITS PLACED ON FUNDS RAISED FOR PRO-ISRAEL CAUSES
Mr Shanmugam also provided an update 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 with limits imposed.
"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."
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