Singapore has ‘very limited role’ to play in Middle East conflict, Vivian Balakrishnan says

Singapore has a very limited role to play in the conflict in the Middle East, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday.

Member of Parliament Gerald Giam had asked if Singapore had plans to play some role to bring those on different sides of the conflict together in “some small way”, given the country’s access to many of the parties.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply in the past week, as Iran and its allies ready their response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the assassination, but it has said it killed other senior Hamas leaders.

Western governments have urged citizens to leave Lebanon – where the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement is based – and airlines have cancelled flights over Iranian airspace.

Iran-backed groups from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria have already been drawn into the nearly 10-month war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Singapore’s top diplomat said in parliament: “Yes, we do have access, and yes, they do listen politely to us because we’ve got long-standing relations. And they know we don’t grandstand, we don’t engage in point seeking, and we’re not engaged in a publicity exercise.”

Noting that Giam visited the Palestinian territories in March with him, Balakrishnan added: “But I think you would also agree … that there is a very, very limited role for us. It’s not a question of a venue for meeting or even offering good advice.”

Until the top leaders in the “two warring tribes” can arrive at a conclusion that violence is not the answer and that concessions are “essential”, both groups occupying “contested land” are not going to leave and this will be a reality until the