Vivian, Palestinian leaders exchange views on Gaza war

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Meetings between a Singapore delegation led by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and officials from the Palestinian Authority on March 18 yielded a candid exchange of views on the war in Gaza, with concerns raised that the fighting could spill over and become a regional conflict, said the minister.

- Kok Yufeng

This would have profound implications for the Middle East and as far afield as South-east Asia, Dr Balakrishnan told the media at Singapore’s representative office in Ramallah, noting that the discussions also revolved around the deterioration of the humanitarian, political and security situation in that region.

“They were very candid. What happened on Oct 7 was a calamity... to both the Israelis and to the Palestinians, and there is no running away from the fact that this has been a very major setback and has had unbearable humanitarian consequences,” he said.

Noting Singapore’s “good and strong” relationship with the Palestinian Authority, which runs parts of the occupied West Bank, Dr Balakrishnan said he appreciated the officials’ openness, constructiveness and trust, even though they know that Singapore’s position cannot be identical to theirs.

“It doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything, but there is respect, there is a commitment to mutual support,” he added.

Dr Balakrishnan had called on Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Prime Minister-designate Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah as part of a 10-day working visit to the Middle East.

Dr Mustafa, a former World Bank official and chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund, will be taking over from Dr Shtayyeh who, along with his government, resigned in February in the wake of the war in Gaza and escalating violence in the West Bank, where Israel has stepped up military raids amid Palestinian street attacks.

Dr Balakrishnan also met his Palestinian counterpart Riad Al-Malki and General Intelligence Services head Majed Faraj in Ramallah.