Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam speaking to reporters on March 25, 2024.
The now-deleted post on the Israeli embassy's Facebook page claimed, "Israel is mentioned 43 times in the Quran. On the other hand, Palestine is not mentioned even once." Additionally, it cited archaeological evidence to support the assertion that Jewish people are the indigenous inhabitants of Israel.
Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam condemned the post, labelling it as "astonishing" and stating it was "completely unacceptable." He emphasized the potential risk it posed to Singapore's safety, security and social harmony.
Following Minister Shanmugam's remarks, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to demand the immediate removal of the post. The embassy complied with the directive promptly.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan echoed Shanmugam's sentiments, emphasizing the inappropriateness of using sacred texts for political purposes. Minister Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore's stance to the Israeli Embassy, which resulted in the post's removal.
Shanmugam highlighted the potential consequences of such inflammatory rhetoric, expressing concerns that it could escalate tensions and endanger Singapore's Jewish community. He urged the post's author to consider international law and UN resolutions before making such assertions.
Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli also condemned the post, emphasizing the importance of respecting religious sensitivities and refraining from using sacred texts for political agendas.