07/11/2025
๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐
๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ, ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐
๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐
Singaporeโs social compact is precious, built over decades of careful effort. It wasnโt forged by avoiding conflict, but by facing it with courage and clarity. Thatโs why the Governmentโs handling of the Friends of Israel Gala Dinner is so disappointing. It suggests that threats can succeed, and that those who resist them will be told to stay quiet.
The dinner was cancelled after reports of pressure and threats from pro-Palestinian activists. That should have been a moment for the state to act decisively: intimidation has no place in Singaporeโs civic life. Instead, the response was cautious and unclear. Were the culprits punished, or simply mentioned in the news? Meanwhile, a church that considered speaking up was publicly warned off. The imbalance is striking, and it undermines confidence in equal treatment.
Minister K. Shanmugamโs concern about communal tension is understandable. But the approach taken risks sending the wrong message: that intimidation works and that responsible voices must stay silent to preserve calm. If threats did lead to a lawful eventโs cancellation, those responsible should face visible, public consequences. Otherwise, we normalise fear and teach future agitators that disruption is a useful tool.
๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐
What makes the cancellation even harder to justify is that the fundraiser was fully compliant with Singaporeโs laws and foreign-policy limits. The organisers, Keren Hayesod, had their permit approved by the Commissioner of Charities after a detailed review. Singaporean authorities verified that none of the absorption centres receiving funds are located in the West Bank, Judea, or Samaria. In fact, there are no Keren Hayesod absorption centres in those territories at all. The money was earmarked solely for humanitarian and resettlement work within Israel proper, not for any disputed territories.
In other words, the event met every legal and diplomatic requirement. The organisers even briefed the relevant ministry and furnished copies of their government-approved permits and speaker passes. Despite this, the gala was still scrapped after online threats and pressure campaigns. A lawful, regulated, and inspected event was undone by noise.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
Singaporeโs harmony isnโt preserved by suppressing speech. It is preserved by protecting space for speech, especially when that speech challenges intimidation. Religious groups should be able to voice concern when public order is undermined. To silence them while softening responses to those who used threats is to confuse peace with appeasement.
We canโt let global conflicts reshape our civic ground. The core issue isnโt Israel or Gaza, but whether Singapore allows fear to dictate who can gather and speak. That must be resisted clearly and consistently.
Harmony is not quiet compliance. It is courage, fairness, and the will to defend the public square for all.
