"Give Sharael a magic wand", Pasir Ris residents frustrated by MP Sharael Taha’s Palestine response

SINGAPORE: At a Meet-the-People Session (MPS) on 15 January, Pasir Ris East residents allegedly questioned their Member of Parliament (MP), Sharael Taha of the People’s Action Party (PAP), on his stance regarding Palestine.

Sharael’s response—allegedly expressing a wish for a "magic wand" to resolve the conflict—frustrated residents, who felt it lacked substance and commitment to real solutions.

A Magic Wand?

Sharael, who had previously spoken about Palestine in Parliament, was approached by residents SA, DL, and A, who sought a stronger stance against what they described as a genocidal, colonising entity.

The discussion initially took a serious tone. Sharael acknowledged the horrors of war, particularly the loss of children's lives, and noted that social media had made these tragedies more visible.

However, his next remarks, as recalled by the residents, left them disappointed.

"Personally, if we had a magic wand, I hope for a way to bring about a two-state solution. It requires both sides to be ready," he allegedly said.

He added that when a two-state solution materialised, Palestinians needed to be able to govern themselves.

Residents Challenge Sharael on Israel’s Role

Residents pushed back, asking whether he considered Israel a credible partner for peace, given its ongoing aggression in the Middle East and escalating violence in the West Bank.

They also questioned whether simply helping Palestinians 'build capacity' was enough and raised concerns about Palestinians' right to return to their homelands.

Sharael allegedly responded, "We are helping to develop the capabilities of Palestinians. How do they self-govern? There needs to be a credible solution to lead society. I am no legal expert, but Israel is not a homogeneous society. They are also having issues."

He then allegedly added, "Conflict in the region is terrible, but not only there. There is conflict in South Korea, Syria, and Libya too."

Residents criticised his response as evasive, pointing out that Palestinians already have a 97% literacy rate and are capable of self-governance.

They accused Israel of systematically erasing Palestinians through ethnic cleansing, arguing that without addressing ongoing aggression, there would be no Palestinians left to "help with building and engineering capabilities."

Concerns Over Israeli Soldiers in Singapore

Residents also raised concerns about whether active Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were permitted to enter Singapore for work, study, or tourism, fearing that war criminals could be among them.

When asked if Singapore allowed IDF soldiers to enter, Sharael allegedly said he did not know.

Pressed on whether he could raise a parliamentary question on the matter, he allegedly replied that he thought it had been raised before but did not engage further.

Residents expressed disappointment, pointing out that Israeli soldiers face potential arrest in countries like Brazil.

They questioned whether Singapore had any policies on this issue and why there was no clear stance.

Calls for Open Discussions on Palestine

Residents also called for greater freedom to discuss Palestine openly, advocating for permits to hold events at Hong Lim Park or public dialogues with policymakers.

They criticised what they saw as heavy-handed censorship of pro-Palestinian voices and warned that restricting public discourse could fuel social isolation and extremism.

Sharael allegedly acknowledged, "There are plenty of negative sentiments in society. It is a worrying landscape."

He emphasised the need for a "united Singapore voice" and allegedly questioned how to ensure that discussions did not divide society.

Residents criticised this as a patronising response, arguing that it shut down discussions rather than addressing the issue.

They asked what a "united Singapore voice" meant when pro-Palestinian advocates had faced investigations and warnings.

They also questioned what the "negative sentiments" were, given that many in Singapore agreed Israel was committing grave violations against humanity.

Towards the end of the discussion, Sharael allegedly stated that his priority was bringing economic investment to Singapore to secure the future of its people and his daughters.

However, when asked whether this included Israeli investment, he allegedly refused to answer.

Activists Call Out Sharael Taha’s "Hypocrisy" on Palestine

Following the meeting, Monday of Palestine Solidarity accused Sharael of hypocrisy, questioning how he could claim to support Palestinians while engaging in financial investment with their occupiers and aggressors.

They demanded to know when Singapore’s elected representatives would take a stronger moral stance against what they described as a genocidal, colonising entity.

"When will Singapore recognise that the two-state solution is no solution at all?"

Additionally, they questioned when Singapore would sanction an entity that repeatedly violated international laws and when open, mature discussions on the issue could take place without fear of being patronised, investigated, or censored.

Rising Advocacy on Gaza in Singapore

Singapore residents have increasingly engaged their Members of Parliament (MPs) to voice concerns over the Israel-Palestine conflict, urging stronger action and greater transparency on the country's foreign policy.

On 16 September, Holland-Bukit Timah resident Hasannah met with MP Edward Chia, who advised caution regarding potential sanctions against Israel.

This was followed by an appeal on 7 October from activists in Punggol West to MP Sun Xueling, calling for a firmer response to the escalating crisis.

Efforts to engage MPs have faced challenges. On 4 November, a Choa Chu Kang resident waited for two hours to meet MP Low Yen Ling but was denied a face-to-face discussion on Singapore’s role in the Palestinian crisis.

Similarly, on 21 November, residents in Boon Lay, West Coast GRC, attempted to meet MP Desmond Lee regarding the situation in Gaza but were unable to do so for the second time.

Some meetings proceeded but left residents dissatisfied. On 18 November, a group from Jalan Besar met MP Josephine Teo in an emotional and detailed discussion, yet received no concrete responses.

Likewise, on 25 November, Nee Soon South residents urged MP Carrie Tan to take a stronger stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, pressing for transparency on Singapore’s foreign policy and questioning the criminalisation of solidarity.

Activists continue to encourage residents to engage with their MPs, hoping to raise awareness and build solidarity for Palestine within Singapore.