SINGAPORE: Members of the Jewish community in Singapore have faced a wave of “unpleasant incidents, hostility, both online and offline”, prompting fears about their safety amid global tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.
Speaking at the Chesed-El Synagogue on Thursday (Nov 6) during its 120th anniversary celebration, Mr Shanmugam said Jewish residents now feel “less secure”.
“I came here today because there has been feedback from the Jewish community about how reactions in Singapore … to events overseas have impacted the lives of some members of the Jewish community,” he said.
Mr Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, cited several recent incidents.
In September, toilets in some international schools in Singapore were vandalised with anti-Israel vulgarities. Jewish students are enrolled in these schools.
Last month, a passing motorist shouted “free Palestine” at a member of the Jewish community who was wearing a skullcap, or kippah, on the way to the synagogue at Waterloo Street.
