Everything About the Israeli Embassy FB Post, Whereby a Person Has Been “Harshly Punished”

Recently, the Embassy of Israel in Singapore came under fire for a Facebook post that was deemed “completely unacceptable” by Minister of Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam.

The post stirred controversy by referencing the Quran to make claims about Israel and Palestine. It quickly drew criticism and was promptly taken down following intervention by the Singapore Government.

Embassy’s Facebook Post Sparks Outrage

The saga began on Sunday, March 24, when the official Facebook account of the Israeli embassy shared a post that caught the attention of many.

The post compared mentions of Israel and Palestine in the Quran, writing, “Israel is mentioned 43 times in the Quran. On the other hand, Palestine is not mentioned even once.

“Each and every archeological evidence – maps, documents, coins, link the land of Israel to the Jewish people as the indigenous people of the land.”

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam condemned the post, labeling it “completely unacceptable” and expressing his disappointment upon learning about it. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) swiftly notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which in turn instructed the Israeli embassy to remove the post immediately.

Following the government’s intervention, the controversial post was promptly deleted from the embassy’s Facebook page the same evening.

Post was Reportedly Uploaded Without Approval

On Monday, 25 March, a spokesperson for the embassy acknowledged that the post had been uploaded without the necessary approvals and assured that the individual responsible had been disciplined.

The embassy expressed regret over the incident, recognizing the insensitivity and inappropriateness of the post.

“The Israel Embassy respects religion and racial harmony in Singapore,” the spokesperson said. “We have already taken action against the relevant person.”

The uploader’s name or position in the embassy was not revealed, however, with the embassy citing “security reasons”.

“However, we assure you that the social media post that had gone up was done without the necessary approvals and the person responsible has already been harshly punished and will face internal disciplinary measures,” the spokesperson said.

Minister Shanmugam Speaks Out Against Controversial Post

Speaking to the media, Minister Shanmugam emphasized the potential risks posed by such inflammatory posts, particularly in a multicultural society like Singapore.

He said that the post was “wrong to selectively point to religious texts, to make a political point”, and it was “an astonishing attempt to rewrite history”.

He emphasized that Singapore maintains the safety, security, and harmony within the country, including minorities like Muslims and Jews.

Bringing up that there is a vibrant Jewish community in Singapore, Minister Shanmugam noted that posts of such nature can spark tension and could potentially put the Jewish community at risk.

While other embassies have put up statements that Singapore does not agree with in the past, the Government generally does not intervene as they respect that they represent sovereign countries with autonomy.

However, Minister Shanmugam emphasized that interventions become necessary when public safety and harmony are at stake.

He clarified that while the government respects freedom of speech, it will not hesitate to act when the well-being of Singaporeans is jeopardized.

At an Iftar (breaking-of-fast) session at the Khalid Mosque in Joo Chiat on 25 March, Minister Shanmugam had thanked Muslim community leaders for their service, and informed attendees that severe actions will be taken against the person who put up the inappropriate post.

“So, in a way, that is good because they accept that the post was wrong in the first place and should never have been put up,” he said.

Other Ministers Speak Out

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also condemned the embassy’s post, labeling it as “highly inappropriate” and “insensitive.”

Speaking to reporters on 25 March, he reminded people to be careful with their words, and keep in mind that they are in Singapore, because “in Singapore, we do things differently”.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli also said in a post on Facebook that, “Nobody should make interpretations that are offensive to another people’s faith, especially selectively using their sacred texts, to make political points.”

Minister Masagos urged Singaporeans to remain calm and civil, emphasizing the importance of preserving trust, peace, and harmony within the community.

He reiterated Singapore’s commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza and reiterated the government’s stance on promoting dialogue and diplomacy in resolving conflicts.