SINGAPORE – A post by the Embassy of Israel in Singapore that had made claims by citing the Quran has been taken down after intervention by the Singapore Government.

Speaking to the media on March 25, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam condemned the post, calling it “completely unacceptable”, and said he was very upset when he found out about it.

A spokesman for the Israel Embassy told The Straits Times that the post had been put up without the necessary approvals and that the person responsible has been punished.

The post was made on the official Facebook page of the Israeli embassy in Singapore on March 24 and taken down that evening.

The post claimed that Israel was mentioned 43 times in the Quran, that Palestine was not even mentioned once, and that there was archaeological evidence that the Jewish people were the indigenous people of the land.

Mr Shanmugam said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had spoken with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on March 24 and said the embassy had to take the post down immediately.

He said: “The post is wrong at many levels. First, it is insensitive and inappropriate. It carries a risk of undermining our safety, security and harmony in Singapore.

“Second, it is wrong to selectively point to religious texts, to make a political point. Even worse, in this current situation, for the Israeli embassy to make use of the Quran for this purpose.

“Third, this post is an astonishing attempt to rewrite history.”

Mr Shanmugam added that Singapore looks after the safety and security of everyone here, including minorities such as Muslims and Jews.

He said there is a vibrant Jewish community here, and that such posts can inflame tensions, putting the Jewish community at risk if anger from the online post spills over into the physical realm.

He said: “MHA had asked for the post to be taken down, and made our views very clear to the Israeli embassy, because it is unacceptable from the perspective of safety and security in Singapore.

“We told them to take it down because of the potential consequences for the different communities within Singapore.”

He said other embassies have put up statements that Singapore may disagree with, but the Republic generally does not intervene as the embassies represent sovereign countries that have autonomy.

Mr Shanmugam said: “But where it affects the safety and security of people in Singapore, the peace and harmony that we enjoy, we do, and we will, intervene.”

The minister said the Singapore Government did not intervene on the basis that the post was an attempt to rewrite history, but that the writer of the post should look at United Nations resolutions and “see if Israel’s actions in the past few decades have been consistent with international law, before trying to rewrite history”.

During a breaking-of-fast session at the Khalid Mosque in Joo Chiat on the evening of March 25, Mr Shanmugam thanked Muslim community leaders for their dedication and service, and reiterated that the post by the embassy was unacceptable.

He also commented that it was good the Israeli embassy had said the post was not authorised.

He said: “In a way, that is good because they accept that the post was wrong in the first place and should never have been put up.”

On March 25, a spokesman for the embassy said the person responsible for the post will face further disciplinary action.

He said: “The Israel Embassy respects religion and racial harmony in Singapore – we have already taken action against the relevant person.

“Due to security reasons, we are unable to divulge the name or role of the person. However, we assure you that the social media post that had gone up was done without the necessary approvals and the person responsible has already been harshly punished and will face internal disciplinary measures.”

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also issued a statement saying the post was highly inappropriate.

He said: “It is highly inappropriate to refer to sacred texts to make political points. We have made this clear to the embassy, which has taken the post down.”

Speaking to reporters in Singapore on March 25 after returning from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Dr Balakrishnan said the incident is a reminder to be careful of what one says.

“Please be careful how and what you say, and bear in mind the fact that we’re in Singapore, and in Singapore, we do things differently,” he said.

“And with all due respect to foreign countries... on the management of race, language and religion, for what it’s worth, I think we’re a positive example.”

In a Facebook post on March 25, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said the post was insensitive and disrespectful and goes against the spirit of mutual respect and understanding in Singapore.

He said: “Nobody should make interpretations that are offensive to another people’s faith, especially selectively using their sacred texts, to make political points.

“Whether one is a Singaporean or foreigner in Singapore, we must not do or say anything that disrupts the social harmony that is so precious to us in Singapore. Such insensitive and inappropriate messages can cause hurt, and sow distrust amongst different communities in Singapore.”

He added that as the incident involved an embassy, action had to be taken according to diplomatic norms, and he was glad that MFA had engaged the embassy to have the post taken down.

“I was very upset when I saw this post, and understand that others in our community also felt aggrieved,” he said.

“But I urge everyone to remain calm and civil and continue to preserve the trust, peace and harmony between our communities. Let us also continue to support the humanitarian aid efforts for the civilians in Gaza, as the Government presses on for a two-state solution supported by the United Nations.”