Singapore to open embassy in Israel for the first time

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Singapore announced Monday it plans to open an official embassy in Israel for the first since the two nations established diplomatic relations in 1965, i24 News reports. While Israel opened an embassy in Singapore in 1968, the Singaporeans set up an honorary consulate in Tel Aviv instead.

The embassy announcement was made by Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan after meeting with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid during a visit to Israel, i24 said. Balakrishnan told Lapid that Singapore will open an embassy in Tel Aviv, rather than Jerusalem.

Welcoming the Singaporean decision, Lapid said in a Twitter statement: “Singapore’s decision is further evidence of the positive and special relations between the two countries.”

In a separate statement, Balakrishnan noted that Israel and Singapore already work together on technology, trade, investment, and that an official embassy will “strengthen” the countries’ cooperation in these sectors, i24 said. Balakrishnan also signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel’s Technology Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen that will lead to Israeli-Singaporean cooperation on artificial intelligence.

The Singaporean Foreign Minister went on to meet with Palestinian Authority officials, and announced that Singapore will open a representative office in Ramallah to help provide assistance to the PA, i24 said.

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