S’pore urges leaders to avoid escalating tensions

Singapore has expressed concern over the recent developments in Jerusalem and condemned the attack at the Kehilat Bnai Torah synagogue on Tuesday, which killed five people.

“Places of worship of all faiths are sacrosanct and must be respected and protected by all. We call on the political leadership on all sides to avoid escalating tensions which could spiral into a new cycle of violence,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore spokesman.

Yesterday, Jewish worshippers returned to seek comfort in prayer at the synagogue attacked on Tuesday by two Palestinian cousins wielding meat cleavers, knives and a handgun. Those killed included four members of the congregation and an Israeli policeman trying to stop the attack. Israeli security forces killed both assailants in a subsequent shoot-out.

Early yesterday, Israeli security forces demolished the east Jerusalem home of Abdel Rahman Shaludi, the Palestinian who killed two people last month in an attack on commuters at a crowded light rail platform in Jerusalem. Abdel Rahman was killed by the police after the attack.

The demolition followed promises by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would take strict measures to deal with a rising wave of Palestinian attacks that in recent weeks have taken 11 lives. Agencies