SINGAPORE: Singapore said on Tuesday (Jul 29) that in the longer term, it is prepared to contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza once a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) deputy secretary for Asia-Pacific Kevin Cheok delivered Singapore’s statement at a United Nations conference in New York about the peaceful settlement of Palestine and the implementation of a two-state solution.
He said that Singapore supports the Egypt-proposed Arab Reconstruction Plan and its vision for reconstruction in Gaza. The proposal would sideline Hamas and replace it with interim bodies controlled by Arab, Muslim and Western states.
The plan, a counter to US President Donald Trump’s ambitions for Gaza as a “riviera”, firmly rejects the US proposal for the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
This is the first time Singapore has publicly thrown its support behind Egypt’s proposal.
Arab states in March adopted the proposal, while the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Britain have said that they supported the plan.
It has been rejected by the US and Israel.
NEW INITIATIVES FOR PALESTINIANS
Mr Cheok said Singapore remains committed to helping to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.
To date, Singapore has contributed more than US$17 million in monetary and in-kind assistance, and has worked with its regional partners and relief organisations to do what it can to help.
“Looking ahead, we are considering the deployment of a medical team to the region to help treat patients from Gaza,” said Mr Cheok.
The country also remains committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority’s capacity-building efforts through its US$7 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, Mr Cheok said.
As part of this effort, the number of scholarships for Palestinians to study in Singapore universities has been increased.
It will also launch two new initiatives next year.
Singapore will collaborate with Japan to train Palestinian Civil Police officers in community policing. It will also launch a young leaders’ programme to share its experiences in public administration and governance.
“We hope that these efforts will help prepare Palestinians for their eventual statehood.”
Source: CNA
