Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam has warned that the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state may not help Palestinians and could, in fact, cause further harm.
According to CNA, the minister made these remarks on 2 September during the Middle East Institute’s annual conference, where he was asked about the conditions under which Singapore would recognise Palestinian statehood.
His comments come amid reports that several countries—including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom—are preparing to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly later this month.
Over 140 out of 193 UN member states currently recognise Palestine.
However, Singapore, along with Japan, South Korea, and the United States, does not.
Concerns over timing and viability
Shanmugam questioned whether such recognition, made in the current context, would advance the Palestinian cause.
“You have to ask whether recognising Palestine very immediately, where there is no viable government and there is no viable two-state solution, hurts or advances the Palestinian cause,” he said.
He noted that recognising Palestine under present conditions would not shift “facts on the ground” and could likely harm Palestinian interests.
Three criteria must be met for recognition, he said: physical space, a stable population, and a viable governing authority.
He pointed to Israeli actions as an obstacle to all three, including the destruction of infrastructure, displacement of civilians, and weakening of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank.
“What it really needs is support in the Palestinian Authority, giving them legitimacy and building them up to a stage where they can govern,” he stated.
However, he acknowledged that “the facts on the ground” significantly hinder international efforts in that direction.
Singapore’s longstanding position
Singapore has maintained that it is “prepared in-principle” to recognise a Palestinian state, but only at a time it deems appropriate.
Shanmugam reiterated Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s earlier statement from May, in which Israel’s military actions in Gaza were described as a “likely breach of international humanitarian law.”
“We have made it very clear several times that, at least as of now, Israel’s response has gone too far,” he said.
Shanmugam added that “many, including I, think that history will probably be harsh in its judgement of Israel’s actions.”
In August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) described Israel’s expansion of military operations in Gaza as “dangerous and unacceptable.”
Singapore continues to support a two-state solution and affirms the Palestinians’ right to a homeland. However, Shanmugam admitted that achieving such a solution currently appears difficult.
“The Palestinians deserve no less, so we have to hold out hope,” he said.
Diplomatic ties and trade with Israel
When asked whether Singapore might downgrade or cut diplomatic ties with Israel, Shanmugam rejected the idea, arguing it would not serve Palestinian interests.
“Say we cut off ties with Israel, how is that going to help the people of Gaza?” he asked. “How will that give us any hope of continuing to speak with the Israeli government and putting forward our viewpoints?”
He added that Singapore, though not a major global actor, maintains longstanding relations with Israel, which enables candid diplomatic engagement.
“They do listen, as long as we are sensible. It doesn’t mean they follow; but at least they listen.”
Shanmugam pointed out that Singapore has not severed ties with countries involved in other humanitarian crises, including Syria, Myanmar, and Russia.
“If you want to cut off ties with Israel, you should be cutting off ties with Russia, and… with the United States, France, Britain,” he said, citing these countries’ roles in supplying weapons used in various conflicts.
Singapore-Israel trade has grown significantly in recent years, reaching approximately US$3.8 billion in 2022, a 67% increase from 2021. Israeli exports include machinery, medical and optical equipment, and transportation products.
Questions on arms sales and UN resolutions
In October 2024, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leong Mun Wai questioned Singapore’s stance following its vote in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution A/ES-10/L.31, which calls for member states to refrain from recognising illegal Israeli settlements.
Leong inquired whether Singapore would ban imports from such settlements, suspend arms sales to Israel, or impose sanctions on individuals complicit in violations of international law.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan declined to confirm whether Singapore would halt arms sales to Israel, citing national security concerns and the country’s policy of not disclosing defence transactions.
He stated that unilateral sanctions would be weighed carefully and must align with national interests.
Dr Balakrishnan also noted the limited impact of sanctions imposed by other countries on Israeli settler leaders and entities, questioning their efficacy.
Contrary to Singapore’s position, several nations have explicitly and openly suspended or banned arms exports to Israel in light of the Gaza offensive.
These decisions have been publicly debated, documented, and justified on moral, legal, or political grounds.
Growing radicalisation risk at home
Shanmugam also highlighted domestic concerns stemming from the conflict. He said the war in Gaza has led to rising anger among Muslim communities in Singapore and the region.
This has increased the threat of radicalisation, with several youths as young as 16 having been detained for extremist leanings related to the conflict.
“The transition from that to people wanting to do something violent about it, either by going over to the Middle East or doing something in Singapore, we have seen some of it,” he said.
“That is the threat of terrorism, and people wanting to take things into their own hands.”
US influence and policy limitations
When asked about the United States’ role in the Israel-Palestine conflict, Shanmugam said it is “probably the only country in a position to dictate Israel’s actions.”
However, he said the US has not taken any significant steps to alter Israel’s trajectory.
He was sceptical that Singapore or even larger nations could shift entrenched US positions, which he described as “set in concrete” over decades.
“One of those viewpoints is to fundamentally go along with almost anything that Israel does,” he remarked.
“I’m not realistically a believer that we can alter that course,” he added.
Observers and scholars have long highlighted the influence of lobbying groups, particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), in shaping US policy. Critics argue that AIPAC and affiliated organisations wield considerable sway over bipartisan political support for Israel.
This influence, they contend, has led to consistent congressional approval of military aid and diplomatic backing for Israel, even amid growing public dissent and opposition from constituents.
Analysts note that despite protests and advocacy from civil society groups, US lawmakers from both major parties continue to support Israel in large numbers, often aligning with lobbying interests over public opinion.
Escalating death toll raises questions over statehood feasibility
As of 2 September 2025, at least 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s military offensive began in October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Another 160,660 people have been injured, with recent fatalities including three children who died from starvation.
Shanmugam’s assertion that Palestine must have a viable government to be recognised as a state raises further questions about feasibility, given the scale of destruction, loss of life, and disintegration of infrastructure.
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