8 Oct: This letter was sent to Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan by Lepak Conversations, along with 64 signatories from key organisations and community leaders — with a request for Singapore to expedite its recognition of the State of Palestine. 

When asked why she signed the letter, former NMP Anthea Ong says, “We have thrived as a people because our statehood was not denied of us in the last 59 years. I wish the same for the Palestinian people sooner rather than later.”

These are the 64 signatories:

 

 

 

 

There was no reply to the letter.

10 Oct: Lepak Conversations sent a press release to the media. The letter has been published on The Online Citizen and spoken about on Plan B's podcast episode with Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, one of the letter's signatories.

14 Oct: We followed up on the email. There was no reply.

23 Oct: We have not received a reply from Dr Vivian. We therefore urge Singaporeans to sign this petition and let your support for this request be known.

 

Below is the letter:

Dear Dr Vivian Balakrishnan,

We, as concerned citizens and voters of Singapore, are writing to urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take a significant step in our nation’s foreign policy by formally recognising the State of Palestine in the immediate instance. We believe that this decision would reaffirm Singapore’s commitment to international law, justice, and peace.

We were encouraged by the Singapore government’s July 2, 2024, announcement, stating that it is prepared in principle to recognise the State of Palestine at an appropriate time, as part of the wider goal of advancing peace in the Middle East. This position reflects Singapore’s thoughtful approach to diplomacy and signals a readiness to support the global efforts toward a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Key Reasons for Recognition:

Commitment to International Law and Justice: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on July 19, 2024, has declared Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as unlawful and countries are obligated to refuse to recognise illegal Israeli changes to the territory. The ICJ’s landmark ruling reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. It strengthens the legal and moral basis for the recognition of the Palestinian state. By formally recognising Palestine, Singapore would demonstrate its respect for international legal norms and show support for a rules-based global order that we, as a nation, have long championed.

Advancing the Two-State Solution: Singapore has consistently supported the two-state solution. Recognising Palestine at this critical juncture would significantly enhance our contribution to the peace process and strengthen our reputation as a principled advocate for a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict. There has been no talks held between Israel and Palestine on the latter’s statehood since 2014, after Israel refused to accept a state encompassing all of the Palestinian territory it illegally occupied. With the recent presentations by Israeli’s Prime Minister of a map of his country with the West Bank borders erased, the appropriate time for Singapore to recognise Palestinian statehood cannot hinge on waiting for Israel to return to the negotiation table with Palestine.

Consistency with Singapore’s Diplomatic Stance: In the July 2024 statement, the Singapore government signalled its readiness to recognise Palestine when the time is right. We believe the time is now, with the ICJ ruling providing further clarity on the illegality of the occupation. Acting now would demonstrate our commitment to international peace and justice.

Global Consensus: Over 140 nations have already recognised Palestine. By doing the same, Singapore would align itself with the global majority, to be part of a solution to break the political impasse that has led to repeated cycles of violence between Israel and Palestine. This will further demonstrate our nation’s commitment to international cooperation and the support of Palestinian sovereignty.

Humanitarian and Ethical Considerations: The ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people as a result of the occupation is a significant humanitarian issue, including the plausible genocide happening in Gaza now, as established by ICJ and the United Nations Human Rights Council. As a nation that upholds the values of human rights, fairness, and equality, Singapore’s recognition of Palestine would be a clear demonstration of our solidarity with the Palestinian cause and our desire for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Enhancing Singapore’s Diplomatic Relations: By recognising Palestine, Singapore could strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with Palestine and the broader international community, reinforcing our role as a respected advocate for peace, justice, and human rights.

We believe that in light of Singapore’s recent statement and the ICJ ruling, the time is right for Singapore to make this important decision. We ask that a plan to recognise the Palestinian state be taken expeditiously given the recent escalating violence in the Middle East, including settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. Our country’s balanced and principled approach to diplomacy has always been a point of pride and we are confident that recognising Palestine would further enhance Singapore’s standing on the world stage.