Tag: Visit

Osman Sulaiman: It Is Imperative That Israel Should Know The World Is Not With Them When They Violate International Law

As the international community condemns and protests against Israel on its controversial law legalizing the building of settlements on West Bank, in Singapore, we are reduced to just handing a letter to its embassy.

We’ve tried applying for a protest of Netanyahu’s visit to Singapore. Although we received a confirmation from NParks to proceed with our event, a day later, a police officer called me up to say that my event requires a police permit.

We were told that such permits would take 2 weeks to process. This effectively disqualifies our event from taking place as we had applied to hold the event less than 14 days.

Not wanting to be daunted by the setback, we decided to write a letter and send it to Israel’s embassy.

Today, a few of us went down to Israel’s embassy to hand deliver the letter to their representatives. While walking up to its perimeter, we were greeted by a few police officers. Two of them were the same officers I met when I went to Myanmar’s embassy during Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit.

They were professional and understanding. They politely asked for our identifications and we obliged. One of the officers started videoing us while the screening was done. We also had a small talk with the officers reiterating the purpose of our visit.

After some time, a man was seen walking out of the embassy’s compound speaking to the guard and the officers. We were then told that its representative is not able to accept our letter. We were told to send an email instead. I almost laugh at the suggestion.

I then asked if there is anywhere I can post the letter to their letterbox but were told there is none. I then insist that there must be an avenue for mails to come through but again we were denied. In the end, we decided to leave the letter at the guard house and left the place.

When I told some friends that I will be handing a protest letter to Netanyahu, some of my friends were concerned. They told me to stand down and not put myself in trouble. I sincerely appreciate their concerns but politely told them that they have nothing to worry as I’ll work within the perimeters of the laws.

It is imperative that Israel should know the world is not with them when they violate international law. The burden is upon us to voice out against atrocities. If we take light of humanitarian issues, cruelty will prosper and we will then fail ourselves as a human being.

Below is the letter that we sent to Israel’s embassy verbatim.

———————————-

20 Feb 2017

Embassy of Israel
22 Steven Close
Singapore257963

Prime Minister of Israel
Mr Benjamin Netanyahu

Dear Mr Netanyahu,

RE: ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT ON PALESTINIAN LAND

We read with disgust that Israel’s Parliament passed a provocative law that would legalize Jewish settlements on privately owned Palestinian land. This new law is making stealing an official policy of Israel.

Despite UN’s resolution demanding on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,” Israel has shamefully passed laws that undermine a two-state policy.

The latest act by your parliament shows the hypocrisy of Israel that it is committed to a two-state solution. It is incongruous when a leader of your stature, endorsed such atrocious law to seize private Palestinian land but play the victim on the international stage.

We would like to strongly register our condemnation of your administration for jeopardising the fundamentals of the peace process by disregarding the international community’s disapproval of Israel’s illegal settlement.

Peace cannot prevail when Israel continues to act with aggression.

Regards,
Concerned Citizens of Singapore

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Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

February 21, 2017
Damanhuri Abas: Singapore Government Should Take The Opportunity To Highlight To Israel That Some Of Its Policies Are In Contravention Of United Nations Resolutions And International Law

The Israel-Palestine issue is an emotional one, especially for Muslims, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who reiterated on Monday (20 February) Singapore’s support for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Speaking on the occasion of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s first official visit to the Republic, Lee said, “I explained (to Netanyahu) why while the Middle East is far away from Southeast Asia, it has an impact on us and it’s of considerable concern for us.

“We ourselves have a significant Muslim population who are an important part of our harmonious multi-racial society,” Lee said at a press briefing held at the Istana.

Lee added that the two-state solution, however hard to achieve, is the only way to bring peace and security to the Israeli and Palestinian people.

During his visit to Israel last year, Lee expressed Singapore’s views on the issue to Netanyahu, he added. Last April, Lee made an official week-long trip to the Middle East, which also included visits to Jordan and the Palestinian Territories.

“Today, the Prime Minister (Netanyahu) updated me on the developments and I explained Singapore’s position again, and expressed my hope for peace between Israel and Palestine, which will contribute to a stabler Middle East and indeed a stabler world,” Lee said.

Reactions from Singaporean Muslim professionals

Speaking in his personal capacity, Damanhuri Abas, a businessman and a member of the Singapore Democratic Party, said the Singapore government should take the opportunity to highlight to Israel that some of its policies are in contravention of United Nations resolutions and international law, such as the continuous construction of new settlements in the West Bank.

“By doing so, Singapore would truly be a worthy friend who is ready to use its friendship and diplomatic channels to remind and correct (Israel) where it is needed,” Damanhuri said.

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said that despite the close bilateral ties, Singapore’s position on the two-state solution is guided by UN resolutions and the views of the international community.

He added that Singapore’s position is also informed by domestic considerations of its “sizeable, largely pro-Palestinian, Malay/Muslim community” and the concerns of Malaysia and Indonesia, which are Muslim-majority neighbouring countries.

“As far as the peace process goes, there will neither be peace nor will there be any meaningful process should there continue to be a right-wing government running the country of Israel, and the continuing increase in settlement activity which has rendered the two-state solution more or less dead in the water,” he said.

Israel is Singapore’s “old friend”

Calling Israel “an old friend”, Lee said that the relationship between the two countries started with defence cooperation when Singapore unexpectedly became independent in 1965.

Israel responded to the Republic’s request to help build the Singapore Armed Forces and since then, bilateral ties have expanded beyond defence and security, Lee said.

Netanyahu, who is on a two-day visit, said that he is amazed by Singapore’s growth and that the Republic and Israel are global partners in many areas.

“I believe that our cooperation will make us even more successful and I think that the opportunities (between the two countries) are vast.

“The future belongs to those who innovate. Singapore and Israel are innovation nations and together we can bring more prosperity and more hope and a better life for our people,” said Netanyahu.

February 21, 2017
Israel PM Netanyahu Still Plans To Visit Singapore On Feb 19 And 20

Despite ongoing police investigations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to Singapore and Australia is “very much still on,” an Australian official said on Wednesday.

Planning for the late February visit is proceeding apace, according to the official.

Netanyahu will be the first sitting Israeli prime minister to visit Australia – which has given the Jewish state strong diplomatic support for years – as well as to Singapore, with whom Israel has a very robust military relationship.

However, the planned third leg of the trip – a visit to Fiji and participation in a summit of leaders of Pacific island states there – has been canceled, with diplomatic officials saying that adding the Fiji leg would be “too long and too complicated” from a security point of view.

It is well understood in Jerusalem that a cancellation of Netanyahu’s visit to Australia would not be looked upon kindly in Canberra given that three high level visits to the country have been canceled over the last three years.

Netanyahu canceled a planned trip there in 2014 because of Operation Protective Edge; foreign minister Avigdor Liberman then canceled a visit there that same year; and President Reuven Rivlin scratched a trip there last year, opting instead to go to Russia.

It has been made clear to Israel that while there would be some understanding for the cancellation of the trip for a genuine reason, tolerance for these cancellations is eroding. The trip is important for the Australians because it is an acknowledgment and recognition by Israel of the strong political and diplomatic support Australia gives Israel in international forums.

The trip is also deemed as very significant to the Jewish community in the country which wants to feel that its strong support for Israel is not taken for granted.

The current government of Malcolm Turnbull is extremely supportive of Israel and would like the visit to take place on its watch to reap domestic political support from the Jewish community and other pro-Israel supporters in the country.

Australia’s diplomatic support was on display this week when not only did it only send a low-level delegation to the Paris Mideast conference, but it also distanced itself from the conclusions afterward.

A representative of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Australian presence at the conference “does not mean we agree with every element of the final statement.

“The most important priority must be a resumption of direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians for a two-state solution as soon as possible.”

Turnbull was the only world leader, with the exception of Netanyahu, to publicly speak out against UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which was adopted in December, saying it was “one sided” and “deeply unsettling.”

Netanyahu is scheduled to leave Saturday night, February 18, and fly to Singapore, arriving Sunday evening.

He is then slated to spend Monday in Singapore, a reciprocal visit to that made by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last year, before flying the next day to Sydney.

Netanyahu is scheduled to fly back to Israel on Saturday night, February 25.

During those five days, he also will travel to Melbourne, but not stay there overnight. The bulk of his meetings with government officials will be held in Sydney.

Source: JPost

January 19, 2017