 | |
 Israel |  Singapore |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Israel in Singapore | Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Tel Aviv |
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador Eliyahu Vered Hazan | Ambassador Ian Mak Jung-I |
Israel–Singapore relations (Hebrew:יחסי ישראל-סינגפור) refers to thebilateral relations between theState of Israel and theRepublic of Singapore. Relations between the two countries have been extremely cordial and friendly for more than half a century.[1][2]
The countries formally established diplomatic relations in May 1969, although unofficial and discreet relations had been in place before that in the form of military cooperation. The two nations are known to share a special relationship and enjoy an extensive security partnership. Israeli and Singaporean arms industries such asIsrael Aerospace Industries andST Engineering engage in joint projects and there is a large volume of military trade between the two countries.[3][4]
Israel has an embassy in theTanglin district of Singapore. Singapore was previously represented by a non–resident ambassador based in Singapore and had an honorary consulate in Tel Aviv. On 21 March 2022, Singapore and Israel announced that Singapore would be establishing an embassy inTel Aviv, which began operations later that year.[5][6] The current Israeli Ambassador to Singapore is Eliyahu Vered Hazan[7] and the current Singaporean Ambassador to Israel is Ian Mak Jung-I.[8]
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Singapore wasseparated fromMalaysia on 9 August 1965, becoming asovereign country. With an independent foreign policy, Singapore would establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Singapore kept its relationship with Israel on a low profile in its initial years to avoid garnering a negative response from itsMuslim-majority neighbours Malaysia andIndonesia, which maintain significant animosity towards Israel stemming from theArab-Israeli conflict and continue to not havediplomatic recognition with it. Kawin Wilairat in his 1975 essay on Singaporean's foreign policy 10 years since its independence points out that Singapore's first prime ministerLee Kuan Yew often made remarks on Singapore's supposed precarious position surrounding itsMuslim neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia as an "Israel in aMalay-Muslim sea".[9]
To protect the newly independent nation from external threats, the Singaporean government decided to model its armed forces, theSingapore Armed Forces (SAF), including itsconscription system, after theIsraeli Defense Forces (IDF). From 1966, Israeli military advisers were brought in to assist in setting up and training the Singaporean military.[2][3] Israel also supplied Singapore with military hardware including tanks and missiles. In 1968, an Israeli trade office was established in Singapore and was subsequently upgraded to embassy status that same year.[10] Such collaborations had stirred suspicions in high ranking army generals in the region likeSumitro.[9]
In April 1986, the Singapore Minister for Foreign AffairsS. Dhanabalan visited Israel. In return, the Israeli PresidentChaim Herzog visited Singapore from 18 to 19 November 1986. Herzog's visit triggered angry protests from both the Malaysian and Indonesian governments; Malaysian newspapers even denounced the visit as affirming the image of Singapore as a "second Israel".[9] The Malaysian government threatened to stop Singapore's water supply across theJohor–Singapore Causeway, which the latter had heavily relied on prior to the introduction ofNEWater and the construction ofdesalination plants. Despite the protests and threats, Singapore refused to be intimidated and Israel–Singapore trade relations continued to expand. By 1991, Israel's trade with Singapore totalled US$79 million in exports and US$43 million in imports. According to Jacob Abadi, Singapore sought to project an image of impartiality towards theArab–Israeli conflict. While maintaining defense and economic relations with Israel, Singapore endorsedUN Resolutions 242 and338 in order to balance relations with its Muslim neighbors and the Arab world.[10][6]
In February 2017, the Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and his wifeSara visited Singapore. He was hosted by the Singaporean Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong. During the visit, Prime Minister Lee spoke in favour of Singapore's long-standing position of atwo-state solution to theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict. Unlike the 1986 state visit, Netanyahu's presence did not attract much opposition from Malaysia and Indonesia.[11] Netanyahu also met with members of theSingaporean Jewish community and visitedMaghain Aboth Synagogue.[12]
In March 2022, Singapore announced that it would establish an embassy in Tel Aviv, 53 years after the two nations first established diplomatic relations. Previously, Singapore was represented by a non–resident ambassador based in Singapore and had an honorary consulate in Tel Aviv.[13] In March 2024, the Minister for Home AffairsK. Shanmugam requested the Israeli embassy to take down a social media post stating that the word "Palestine" was not included in the Quran, stating that it had undermined Singapore's "safety, security and harmony".[14] On 10 May 2024, Singapore was one of the 143 nations that supported aUnited Nations resolution supporting Palestine's admittance as a member of the international organization with the statement that the decision was made after "serious and careful consideration".[15]
In 2005, the two countries signed a pact to ease the flow of goods and investments between the two countries during a visit to Israel by Singapore Senior MinisterGoh Chok Tong with members of the Israeli Cabinet as well as meeting Israeli Prime MinisterAriel Sharon.[16] In February 2017, Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister to visit Singapore in 30 years.[17]
Singapore does not recognise theState of Palestine, although the country has always supported a negotiatedtwo-state solution.[18] Singapore was also one of 41 countries that abstained from voting on theResolution 67/19 on "Status of Palestine in the United Nations" by the United Nations General Assembly on 29 November 2012 which granted Non-Member Observer State status to Palestine. In explaining the reasons for Singapore's abstention, Senior Minister of StateMasagos Zulkifli stated that Singapore believes "that only a negotiated settlement consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 242 can provide the basis for a viable, long term solution" and that "both sides have legitimate rights and shared responsibilities, and must be prepared to make compromises to achieve the larger good of a lasting peace".
"We were relieved the Israelis were not defeated or ourSAF would have lost confidence."
In 1990, the Singapore–Israel Chamber of Commerce first commenced operations.[21]
In 2013, Singapore–Israel trade totaled S$1.956 billion, a 24.6% jump year-on-year from 2012, according to figures from the Embassy of Israel in Singapore and IE Singapore. Singapore is a net importer from Israel, and Israel exports mostly electrical equipment to Singapore, while Singapore exports mostly machinery and computer equipment to Israel.[22]
In August 2023, Israeli Economy MinisterNir Barkat led a delegation to Singapore aimed at boosting mutual cooperation in the fields of education, medical research, tourism,water scarcity solutions, support for entrepreneurs, and technological innovation. Trade between the two countries totalled $3.8 billion, up 67% compared to the previous year.[23]
In January 1968, before diplomatic relations were established, Singapore made an agreement to purchase 72 surplusAMX-13 tanks from Israel.[2] By the 1980s, Singapore had acquired over 350 of these tanks.
During the formative years of theSingapore Armed Forces (SAF) in the late 1960s, Singapore sought advice and consultation from experienced militaries to form a credible military post-independence. Israel responded and provided doctrine and training development. Due to sensitivities in a Muslim-dominant region, Singapore kept the co-operation low-profile.[24]
Over the years, Israel has continued to advise Singapore on an array of military topics, ranging from night operations to aviation psychology. The defence and intelligence establishments of both countries conduct routine exchanges of information, and a small number of IDF officers serve in staff appointments within the SingaporeMinistry of Defence (MINDEF).[25]
Today, the two countries operate many of the same weapon platforms, including early warning aircraft, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, aircraft and surveillance technologies.[26] This is particularly true with respect to aerial systems (as the ground terrain of the two countries is very different). As such, the primary aircraft type make up of the Israeli and Singaporean air forces is nearly identical, with both countries operating theF-15E Strike Eagle,F-16 Fighting Falcon,F-35 Lightning II,G550airborne early warning aircraft,C-130 Hercules,AH-64 Apache, andM-346 Master advanced training aircraft. They also operate similar submarines—larger variants of the GermanType 212 submarine (Dolphin-class submarine andInvincible-class submarine respectively).
Since the 2000s, theSingapore Government has expressed concerns overPalestinian rocket attacks on Israel. In January 2009, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said of theGaza War, "This is an extremely disturbing development," that "It can only exacerbate the already grave humanitarian situation." Following the ceasefire, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it a "positive development" but remained "deeply concerned over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urge all sides to take urgent steps to address the situation".[citation needed]
In July 2014, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement onthe murder of three Israeli teenagers in theWest Bank. The statement said: "Singapore strongly condemns the killing of the three Israeli teenagers, who were first abducted on 12 June 2014. We convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Israel. Perpetrators of such heinous crimes must be swiftly brought to justice".[27] During the subsequent2014 Gaza war, Singapore Minister for Foreign AffairsK. Shanmugam said the Palestinian militant organisationHamas has "deliberately used civilians as [human] shields" and was responsible for rejecting the Egyptian proposal on 15 July 2014 for a ceasefire.[28] In the same speech to the Singapore Parliament, he also said that Hamas had been consistently launching rocket attacks at Israel, numbering over 2,000 missiles at one point, and this was what prompted the start of Israel's operation to destroy these rocket-launching sites, the smuggling tunnels and the munitions stockpiles to prevent attacks on Israel civilians.[citation needed]
During theGaza war that began following the 2023October 7 attacks, Singapore condemned Hamas' rocket and terror attack on Israel,[29] with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and PresidentTharman Shanmugaratnam writing condolence letters of support to their respective counterparts Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and PresidentIsaac Herzog on 8 October.[30] K. Shanmugam stated a few days later on 12 October that such atrocities [by Hamas] "cannot be justified by any rationale" and that "it is possible to deeply sympathise with the plight of the Palestinians, and yet still unequivocally condemn the terrorist attacks carried out in Israel."[31] On 16 October, it was announced that both the government and theSingapore Red Cross (SRC) will contribute over half a million dollars in humanitarian aid to support relief efforts.[32]
Singapore's stance towards the conflict has also become increasing critical of Israel's actions, beginning in early 2024 with Singapore's Minister of Foreign AffairsVivian Balakrishnan saying that Israel's military actions have "gone too far."[33] In July 2025, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly condemned Israel for the first time, referring to Israel's denial of humanitarian aid to Gaza as being "a violation of international humanitarian law" and unconscionable.[34] In the same month, Kevin Cheok, the Deputy Secretary (Asia‑Pacific) at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced at a United Nations conference inNew York City that Singapore is "prepared in principle" torecognise Palestine as a state, emphasising that such recognition should promote peace through a negotiated two-state solution.[35][36]
A second round of condemnation occurred after Israel launched anair strike in Doha on 10 September 2025, with Singapore calling the attack a violation of Qatar's sovereignty and describing it as "egregious and dangerous."[37]
On 21 November 2025, Singapore imposed financial sanctions and barred entry to fourIsraeli settlers who had been implicated inviolence and incitement against Palestinians in theWest Bank. The Singaporean Foreign Ministry also reiterated its opposition to settlement expansion in the West Bank.[38]
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