Albanese must learn from Singapore and position Australia for a share of the billions that will be spent rebuilding Gaza

 by Ganesh Sahathevan

                    More listening and learning, less talking about dumb ideas like Sun Cable will better serve  Australia's   national  interest

Singapore's first ambassador in residence to Israel presented his credentials in December last year (see story below). As reported, Singapore appears to be positioning itself for the rebuilding of Gaza, and its Muslim majority neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia, by their lack of protest , appear to be happy for Singapore to take the lead. 

In Australia on the other hand Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Foreign Minister Penny Wong have not done anything but make quite pointless statements in support of the PLA-HAMAS, while lecturing Israel on the proper conduct of war. Australia has not fought a war to defend its territory since World War 2, so has limited expertise in that regard..

Australia does on the other hand have world class skills in engineering and construction and the iron ore and other minerals that would be needed in the reconstruction. Australians would be better served by Albanese if he spends more time and effort positioning Australia for a share of the billions that will be spent rebuilding Gaza,and the billions more that will be spent when Gaza is turned into what many believe  could be a very profitable  centre for international trade. Albanese ought to seek lessons and advice from Singapore. 

Saturday, December 30, 2023

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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