S’pore has always stood by two-state solution for Israel, Palestine

SINGAPORE — Despite Singapore’s close relations with Israel, the Republic has taken a principled, consistent and long-standing position on the Israel-Palestine issue, said Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman yesterday.

Speaking during the Committee of Supply Debate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Parliament, Dr Maliki said Singapore has good relations with both Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), as well as many Arab countries.

“Although the situation is complex and progress is difficult, Singapore has always urged Israel and Palestine to resume direct negotiations and work towards a just and durable solution to this long-standing conflict,” he said in response to a question from Potong Pasir Member of Parliament Sitoh Yih Pin.

“This is because we are convinced that a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, however hard to achieve, is the only way to bring peace and security to both peoples.”

Multiple efforts have been made to broker an agreement on a two-state solution, in which Israel would exist peacefully alongside a new Palestinian state created in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, land seized by Israel in the 1967 war, without success.

Dr Maliki said yesterday that during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s official week-long trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories last year and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official visit to Singapore last month, Mr Lee had “clearly articulated” Singapore’s long-standing and consistent position on the Middle East peace process, including the Republic’s support for the two-state solution.

“While Singapore supports Israel’s right to live within secure borders and in peace, at the same time, we also support the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland. We have consistently voted in favour of most of the Palestinian-related resolutions tabled at the UN (United Nations) General Assembly,” Dr Maliki said.

He noted that Mr Lee last year pledged to double an existing technical assistance package by Singapore to the PNA from S$5 million to S$10 million. He said Singapore has trained over 260 Palestinian officials in various courses over the years.

Going forward, Dr Maliki said Singapore is working closely with the PNA to identify critical areas where the Republic can contribute to capacity-building in the Palestinian Territories, within Singapore’s limited resources. EILEEN NG