News
Netanyahu highlights importance of strong relations with South East Asia during Singapore visit
Israel’s Prime Minister met his Singaporean counterpart yesterday and emphasised the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries and Israel’s role in the wider region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the presidential palace and described a shared “culture of diversity and tolerance” in the two countries, which “will ultimately decide the fate of our region and the fate of peace”. Netanyahu emphasised: “I am committed to peace and the people of Israel yearn for peace, all of us.” He added optimism towards achieving this goal “because I sense a great change in the Arab world,” including a “newfound attitude towards Israel to help to solve the Palestinian Israeli conflict”.
Netanyahu said that Israel and Singapore are already “working together…cooperating in the economy, in trade, in technology, in medicine, in every field”. He said both countries “have extraordinary reputations in the world but the fact is that when we combine them, we have an even more powerful brand”.
Netanyahu described Singapore as a “gateway to Asia” and consequently a “perfect partner”.
He explained: “Israel is pivoting towards Asia in a very clear and purposeful way. Next month I’ll go to China, somewhat later this year Prime Minister Modi of India will come to visit Israel.”
Prime Minister Lee described Israel and Singapore as “old friends” and that since Israel aided Singapore’s defence forces following its independence in 1965, “our ties have expanded beyond defence and security”.
Lee said: “We have consistently believed that a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, however hard to achieve, is the only way to bring peace and security to both peoples.” He added that doing so would “involve very difficult compromises”.
Netanyahu is the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit Singapore since Yitzhak Rabin’s unofficial visit in 1993. Netanyahu will continue his regional tour with a visit to Australia later this week, where he will meet the country’s leaders and sign agreements to boost technological exchanges and commercial links.