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SINGAPORE – There have been several incidents of anti-Semitism in Singapore, which is a worrying development, said Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.<\/p>\n
On Nov 6, Mr Shanmugam said in September, some toilets in international schools with Jewish students were vandalised with anti-Israel vulgarities.<\/p>\n
In October, a Jewish man wearing a skullcap on his way to the synagogue at Waterloo Street heard a passing motorist shout \u201cFree Palestine\u201d at him.<\/p>\n
These incidents come in the wake of global tensions due to the Israel-Palestine conflict since October 2023.<\/p>\n
Mr Shanmugam was speaking on the sidelines of a closed-door engagement session with members of the Jewish community at the Chesed-El Synagogue, along Oxley Rise.<\/p>\n
It celebrated its 120th anniversary on Nov 6 with a gathering of more than 200 people, including members of the Inter-Religious Organisation and guest-of-honour Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower Dinesh\u00a0Vasu\u00a0Dash.<\/p>\n
Mr Shanmugam said acts of anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in Singapore.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cHere in Singapore, our laws and norms reflect a very simple principle: everyone, regardless of race and religion, must be treated fairly. They must be allowed to practise their religion freely.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey must be protected from discrimination, harassment and violence. And all Singaporeans and all communities in Singapore, whatever our feelings towards Palestine or Israel, must feel safe and respected here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he was there to hear from the Jewish community about the unpleasant incidents they faced both online and offline, and noted that they now feel less secure.<\/p>\n
Mr Shanmugam said the negative experiences have also affected other Singaporeans. <\/p>\n
He said: \u201c(In) late October, a Singaporean Chinese man wearing a cap with a patch resembling the Israeli flag was assaulted by a Malay man.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added the police were investigating the incident.<\/p>\n
He also said a Catholic woman reported through a Government feedback channel that a couple had condemned her in the name of God for not doing anything for Palestinians.<\/p>\n
Mr Shanmugam added: \u201cLate last year, there were a series of incidents involving graffiti in public toilets which said \u2018Melayu Sokong Hamas\u2019 (which) translated (means), \u2018Malays support Hamas\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n
The minister said the police were also investigating these graffiti incidents.<\/p>\n
Mr Shanmugam also commented on an upcoming gala dinner in November organised by an Israel-linked group, the \u201cFriends of Israel Annual Aliyah Gala Dinner\u201d, which sparked online backlash.<\/p>\n
A post about the gala dinner previously listed The Fullerton Hotel as its host, but the hotel later said it would not be hosting the event.<\/p>\n