Singapore appoints first ambassador in residence to Israel at height of Gaza War -Malaysia , Indonesia and Brunei likely to have been consulted prior to appointment , and blessed the appointment with a view to the contracts for the rebuilding of Gaza

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

                                       In first, Singapore ambassador to Israel presents credentials to Herzog.                                                      Ambassador Ian  Mak  presenting credentialsto President Issac Herzog.                             

In appointing its first ambassador in residence to Israel, Singapore seems to be positioning itself for the rebuilding of Gaza. As  Ho Ching put it, Gaza has the potential to be another Singapore.

Singapore does so despite being surrounded by Muslims in Indonesia. Malaysia's PM Anwar Ibrahim has been particularly defiant in supporting HAMAS and when then President Of Israel Chaim Herzog visited Singapore in 1986 Malaysia , Indonesia and Brunei protested.

 It is likely that Singapore has had discussions with Malaysia and Indonesia prior to this posting, which was announced on 31 October 2023, 24 days after the 7 October incident and the commencement of the Gaza War. It is not unlikely that like Singapore, Indonesia , Brune and Malaysia also can see opportunities in the rebuilding of Gaza.

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