S’pore will reconsider position on Palestine if situation deteriorates: Vivian
Source: Straits Times
Article Date: 23 Sep 2025
Author: Anjali Raguraman & Zhaki Abdullah
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore has consistently affirmed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their own state.
Singapore will recognise the state of Palestine when it has an effective government that accepts Israel’s right to exist and categorically renounces terrorism, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Sept 22.
At the same time, the city-state’s support for a two-state solution means it will oppose any steps by Israel to extinguish or undermine such an outcome, he added.
“Singapore cannot recognise any unilateral annexation of occupied territory, because this would be a flagrant breach of international law,” he told the House.
With events unfolding quickly, Singapore will continue tracking developments in Gaza closely. Should the situation continue to deteriorate, or if Israel takes further steps to extinguish a two-state solution, the Republic will reconsider its position on recognising a Palestinian state, said Dr Balakrishnan.
In a ministerial statement to Parliament, the Foreign Minister said Singapore has so far maintained its position on recognising a Palestinian state, while doing as much as it can to help the Palestinian Authority strengthen its capabilities.
“Our position today is not if, but when to recognise (Palestine), and we are waiting for that appropriate constellation of factors to be in (place),” he said.
Dr Balakrishnan was replying to 13 questions that MPs had filed on the conflict, including the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Singapore’s diplomatic efforts to help.
Along with a large majority of United Nations member states, Singapore recently voted in favour of a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration to support a two-state solution.
“The resolution reflected widespread concern that the two-state solution is being eroded by Israel’s actions,” said Dr Balakrishnan, who added that Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza has sparked renewed efforts by the international community to press the country to change course.
Four nations – Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal – officially recognised Palestine as a state on Sept 21.
This comes ahead of the UN General Assembly taking place in New York this week.
These four countries join more than 140 out of 193 UN member states that recognise a Palestinian state. The US does not, and in Asia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea also do not formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.
Dr Balakrishnan noted that a further eight countries are expected to announce the recognition of Palestine later on Sept 22 at the UN.
“Today, a few countries have chosen to change their position and to formally recognise the Palestinian state now, even as the prospects of a functioning state have, in fact, become more remote,” he said.
“They do so precisely to express their grave concern at the status quo, and they hope that this will make it harder for Israel to extinguish a two-state solution altogether.”
Dr Balakrishnan noted that for some of these countries, recognition will be conditional, predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to renounce terrorism and conduct administrative reform. There is also an expectation – perhaps wishful – for Hamas to disarm and to release all remaining hostages, he added.
The minister said Singapore has consistently affirmed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their own state, as seen in its voting record at the UN.
In 2024 alone, Singapore voted in favour of several resolutions that expressed support for the admission of Palestine as a UN member and affirmed the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Dr Balakrishnan said a viable two-state solution is predicated on Palestine’s ability to govern itself, should a permanent ceasefire come into effect.
But first, a unified Palestinian government – one that can exercise effective control in areas including the West Bank and Gaza – will have to be in place.
Noting that there has not been such a government for the last 18 years, he said: “What will happen in Gaza after a ceasefire is unclear.”
It also remains to be seen whether the Palestinian Authority can disarm and displace Hamas from Gaza, he said, adding that Singapore will continue to closely monitor the fulfilment of commitments to renounce terrorism, carry out reforms and disarm Hamas.
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh asked whether Singapore risked being seen as anachronistic, given that many of the country’s major trade and defence partners, and the majority of the international community, have recognised Palestine.
He also sought clarifications on the specific principles the city-state is upholding by not recognising the state of Palestine immediately.
Dr Balakrishnan said in response that while all countries want the same thing – peace, and for there to be no terrorism – each will have different thresholds and triggers to take certain diplomatic moves.
He noted that Singapore had, in May 2024, shifted to say it was prepared to recognise the Palestinian state, and it has now said it will do so when there is an effective government that renounces terrorism and recognises the state of Israel.
Singapore has taken its current position due to its complete aversion to terrorism, and to guard jealously its national interests, he added. These are maintaining national unity, protecting its security, and its support for international law.
The city-state has to triangulate between these three interests on every issue, and when there is evident tension between these poles, the PAP government will talk about the issue openly and delicately, he said.
“It means we will not always follow the crowd – many times, we will be in a minority, and we will not be afraid to be in a minority, so long as we understand that we’re taking a stand based on principle (and) to defend our own people’s welfare and security.”
As Palestinians prepare for eventual statehood, Singapore will continue providing them with concrete, capacity-building support efforts, said Dr Balakrishnan.
He noted that more than 800 Palestinian officials have benefited from a $10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, through training in fields such as public administration, digitalisation and public health.
More scholarships will also be awarded to Palestinian students, alongside community policing and leadership programmes.
As difficult and distant as it may now seem, the only viable pathway to a lasting peace remains a two-state solution, stressed Dr Balakrishnan.
On its part, Singapore will continue to support any initiative to resume negotiations between the parties involved towards this goal.
“As a friend to both sides, we can only hope that in time, there will be the political will and inspired leadership from both sides to enter into direct negotiations on a two-state solution, consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.
Singapore’s recognition of a Palestinian state ‘not a question of if, but when’: Faishal Ibrahim
The recognition of a Palestinian state is what Singapore hopes for, and “is not a question of if, but when”, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.
He gave the assurance in Parliament on Sept 22 that Singapore is working towards recognising Palestine as a state.
“That has always been Singapore’s position to ensure enduring peace for the people of Israel and Palestine. This is not a question of if, but when,” he added in his ministerial statement on Singaporeans’ response to the situation in the Middle East.
While Singapore has yet to recognise Palestine as a state, it is not a silent onlooker to the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, Associate Professor Faishal added.
He pointed to efforts to intensify humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in Gaza, and to continue to provide practical support for the Palestinian Authority’s capacity-building efforts to prepare for eventual statehood.
“We may not recognise Palestine today, but I would like to make clear to Singaporeans that we have not been – and will not be – silent onlookers to the tragedy unfolding in Gaza,” he said.
He noted that Malay/Muslims here are especially affected by the conflict, as the Palestinian cause holds “profound meaning” to the community.
“But I believe I speak on behalf of all Singaporeans, not just the Malay/Muslims, that we are horrified and saddened by the latest developments in the Middle East,” he said.
“What is happening in Gaza is a terrible humanitarian tragedy. The suffering, forced displacement, and loss of innocent civilians we are witnessing is unbearable to many of us, regardless of our ideologies and faiths,” he added.
Prof Faishal said the situation has evolved greatly since it was first discussed in Parliament in November 2023, when the House condemned the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilian hostages.
Israel’s actions in Gaza since then have been “disproportionate and unacceptable”, he said.
He noted that the intensified bombardment of Gaza has destroyed the enclave’s critical infrastructure, buildings and homes, with almost the entire civilian population forced to flee without a safe place to escape to.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has declared the widespread starvation and deprivation in Gaza a “man-made famine”, he added, noting that this was compounded by Israel blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid for months.
The continued forced displacement of Palestinians is morally reprehensible and an offence against humanity, Prof Faishal said.
About 1.9 million Palestinians have had to flee their homes since the war began, he said, with more than 750,000 having to evacuate since March when Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, ending a two-month ceasefire.
He added that the Israeli government has chosen to compound the tragedy by going ahead with settlement projects in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.
“By any yardstick, the actions by Israel are unjustifiable and may even be a breach of international humanitarian law. They are certainly against morality,” said Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs.
While Israel has the right to defend itself, it has now gone too far, he said, referencing similar remarks by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in May 2025.
“Along with the wider international community, we must express our firm opposition to violations of international law, and to unilateral measures that seek to permanently erase the possibility of a two-state solution,” Prof Faishal said.
He pointed to Singapore’s endorsement of the New York Declaration at the UN General Assembly on Sept 12 – which called for an end to the war in Gaza and a two-state solution to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – saying the Republic is “once again standing firm in support of steps towards the two-state solution”.
“But for a two-state solution to be viable, Israel must accept a Palestinian state, just as Palestinians must also accept Israel’s right to exist,” he said.
He thanked Malay/Muslim MPs and community leaders for rallying Singaporeans of all races and religions to contribute generously to humanitarian and capacity-building efforts for Palestine, along with organisations such as Humanity Matters, Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) and Mercy Relief.
RLAF, for example, has raised $15 million for Gaza since the start of the conflict, he noted.
Prof Faishal added that he was heartened that while there is “anguish, dismay and even revulsion and disgust towards Israel’s actions”, collective wisdom has prevailed.
In his engagements and dialogues with the community, most said they understood Singapore’s position on the matter, with many exploring other avenues of showing support for the Palestinians, he said.
“We understand that the Republic’s foreign policy must take into consideration international complexities and the country’s national interests to decide on what is best for Singapore.”
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
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