Lee Kuan Yew's WARNING for Israel (ft. Iran, US & Singapore-Israel Relations)
Summary
TLDRThis script explores the intricate relationship between Singapore and Israel, highlighting Singapore's reliance on Israeli military support after independence in 1965, and its eventual diplomatic ties with Israel. It also delves into Lee Kuan Yew's cautious approach to this relationship, Singapore's consistent support for a two-state solution, and his broader warnings about Middle East conflicts. Lee critiques U.S. foreign policy, Israel’s settlement expansion, and fears of a nuclear arms race in the region, emphasizing the dangers of unresolved tensions between Israelis, Arabs, and Iran, which he believes pose significant risks to global peace.
Takeaways
- 🌍 In conflicts between Israelis and Arabs, rationality often dissolves, leading to fear and prolonged tensions.
- 🕊️ Lee Kuan Yew emphasized the need for Israelis to find a peaceful solution to avoid endless wars and potential disaster.
- 🇸🇬 Singapore established secretive military ties with Israel after its independence in 1965, despite potential backlash from neighboring Muslim-majority countries.
- 🛡️ Under Israeli guidance, Singapore developed its military, including conscription, modeled after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
- 💼 Singapore's relationship with Israel extended beyond defense, drawing economic inspiration from Israel's strategies to leapfrog regional boycotts.
- 🏛️ Despite military assistance, Singapore refrained from officially recognizing Israel until later, balancing religious harmony and international relations.
- ✌️ Singapore consistently advocates for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the necessity of peace between both sides.
- 🇺🇳 In 2023, Singapore voted in favor of a UN resolution supporting Palestinian membership, reaffirming its commitment to a two-state solution.
- 📉 Lee warned that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is becoming harder to resolve, with illegal Israeli settlements and US foreign policy complicating peace efforts.
- ⚠️ Lee expressed concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and viewed a nuclear arms race in the Middle East as a major global threat.
Q & A
What was Singapore's relationship with Israel shortly after gaining independence?
-Singapore's relationship with Israel began shortly after gaining independence in 1965. After being rejected by India and Egypt, Singapore turned to Israel for military assistance, despite concerns about provoking hostility from neighboring Muslim-majority countries.
How did Israeli military advisors contribute to the development of Singapore's armed forces?
-Israeli military advisors, referred to as 'Mexicans' to mask their identity, arrived in Singapore in 1965 and provided crucial military training. They helped Singapore develop a conscription system modeled after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), rapidly strengthening the nation's defense capabilities.
Why did Singapore initially resist establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel?
-Singapore resisted establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel because Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew did not want to alienate the Muslim populations in Singapore and neighboring Malaysia. He was cautious about maintaining religious and political harmony.
When did Singapore establish an Israeli embassy, and why?
-Singapore established an Israeli embassy in 1969, following Israel's decisive victory in the Six-Day War in 1967. This victory reassured Singapore's leadership about the effectiveness of its military system, prompting confidence in further strengthening ties with Israel.
How did Israel's development strategies influence Singapore's economic policies?
-Singapore was inspired by Israel's strategy of leaping ahead economically, despite being boycotted by neighboring countries. Israel focused on exporting goods like fruits and flowers to Europe and America. Singapore adopted a similar strategy, forging economic ties with industrialized nations to attract investments from Europe, Japan, and the US.
What is Singapore's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
-Singapore has consistently supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine. Despite its close ties with Israel, Singapore has voted in favor of UN resolutions supporting Palestinian membership.
How did Lee Kuan Yew view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his later years?
-In his final book, published in 2013, Lee Kuan Yew identified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the region's most pressing issue, warning that its resolution was essential for broader peace in the Middle East. He expressed concern that the likelihood of a permanent solution was diminishing.
What role did Lee Kuan Yew believe the US played in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
-Lee Kuan Yew believed the US was the only power capable of pressuring Israel to pursue peace, especially by leveraging its military and financial aid. He criticized US foreign policy for failing to take a more neutral stance, which he argued was necessary to resolve the conflict.
What concerns did Lee Kuan Yew have about Iran's role in the Middle East?
-Lee Kuan Yew viewed Iran as a significant obstacle to peace in the Middle East. He believed that Iran's ambitions to dominate the region were driven by both the Sunni-Shiite divide and a deep-seated pride in its Persian Imperial past. He was skeptical of Iran's claims that it did not want to develop nuclear weapons.
What did Lee Kuan Yew predict about the future of nuclear weapons in the Middle East?
-Lee Kuan Yew predicted that if Iran continued its nuclear development, a nuclear arms race could be triggered in the Middle East. He warned of a serious miscalculation that could lead to the first use of nuclear weapons since World War II, describing the region as the highest risk area for such a scenario.
Outlines
🌍 Singapore's Strategic Military Ties with Israel
This paragraph explores Singapore's secretive military relationship with Israel, initiated after gaining independence in 1965. Singapore's founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, initially sought military support from India and Egypt but was rejected. He turned to Israel for help, despite concerns about Muslim-majority neighbors. Under the guidance of Israeli advisors, Singapore rapidly developed its armed forces, adopting a conscription system similar to Israel's. Although Israel pressured Singapore to officially recognize it in exchange for military assistance, Lee resisted until after the Six-Day War in 1967. Despite their strong partnership, Singapore has consistently advocated for a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
🔎 The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Lee Kuan Yew's Perspective
In this section, Lee Kuan Yew's views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are discussed. He saw the conflict as the most pressing issue in the Middle East, warning that the longer it persists, the less likely a peaceful solution becomes. Lee criticized U.S. foreign policy, asserting that only America has the power to pressure Israel to pursue a peace deal. He pointed to the U.S.'s large financial and military aid to Israel as a barrier to peace. Lee also expressed concerns over Israel's settlement expansion and argued that America's support for Israel fuels anti-American sentiment worldwide, contributing to terrorism.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Israeli-Palestinian conflict
💡Two-state solution
💡Lee Kuan Yew
💡Israel-Singapore relations
💡Six-Day War
💡Pro-Israel lobby in the US
💡Iran nuclear ambitions
💡Religious harmony in Singapore
💡Oslo Accords
💡US foreign policy in the Middle East
Highlights
In conflicts between Israelis, Arabs, and Muslims, rationality often dissolves and fear dominates.
The next generation of Israelis needs to find a way to peace to avoid endless wars or escalating tensions.
Singapore established a secretive partnership with Israel shortly after its independence in 1965, seeking military assistance after being rejected by India and Egypt.
Israeli advisors, referred to as 'Mexicans' to disguise their true identity, arrived in Singapore in 1965 to help build its armed forces.
Under Israeli guidance, Singapore adopted a conscription system modeled after the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).
Despite pressure from Israel, Singapore initially resisted recognizing Israel as a sovereign state to avoid alienating neighboring Muslim-majority countries.
Following Israel's victory in the Six-Day War, Singapore felt confident in its military capability and made substantial arms purchases, including 72 tanks from Israel.
Singapore officially established an Israeli embassy in 1969, further solidifying its military ties with Israel.
Lee Kuan Yew drew inspiration from Israel’s economic strategies, using them as a model to establish ties with developed countries and boost Singapore's economy.
Singapore has consistently advocated for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, maintaining a balanced stance.
In 1994, Lee Kuan Yew visited Israel for the first and only time after the signing of the Oslo Peace Accords.
Recent social media posts by the Israeli Embassy in Singapore caused a backlash, reaffirming Singapore’s commitment to religious harmony and its stance on the two-state solution.
Lee Kuan Yew criticized U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, arguing that only America has the power to pressure Israel into resolving the conflict.
Lee expressed concerns that Iran, driven by ambitions for regional dominance, is a significant obstacle to Middle East peace.
Lee predicted that unresolved tensions between Israel and Iran could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, increasing the risk of nuclear conflict.
Transcripts
in a conflict between Israelis and Arabs
and
Muslims
rationality dissolves and fear takes
over yes for the next generation of
Israelis I have got to find a way to
peace absolutely because an armed
otherwise is endless Wars or tensions
and the danger eventually of a holocaust
as tensions escalate once more between
Israel and Iran let's revisit the
warnings and predictions made by the
late lewu and his critique of US foreign
policy in the region but first let's
explore Singapore's initially secretive
relationship with Israel the partnership
between the two began shortly after
Singapore gained independence from
Malaysia in 1965 Al learning defenseless
Lee reached out to leaders in India
Egypt and Israel seeking assistance in
building Singapore's Armed Forces
initially reluctant to accept Israeli
help fearing it might provoke hostility
from neighboring Muslim majority
countries Lee ultimately turned to
Israel after being rejected by both
India and Egypt the first contingent of
Israeli advisors referred to as Mexicans
to master true identity arrived in
November 1965 to provide military
training under their guidance Singapore
rapidly developed as Armed Forces
adopting a conscription system modeled
after the IDF another critical decision
I made within a year of Independence was
to build a national service Armed Force
if we did not have the ability to defend
ourselves nobody not even our own people
would have faith in our future so we
studied the Swiss the swedes and the
Israelis the Israelis offered help to
build a system for a totally national
service Armed
Force we now have a credible defense
capability but during this time
Singapore would face persistent pressure
from Israel to officially recognize it
as a sovereign state and to establish an
embassy in exchange for their military
assistance however Lee stood firm
against these demands even if Israel
threatened withdraw support stating that
he did not want to alienate the Muslim
populations in Singapore and Malaysia
but following Israel's decisive victory
in the Six Day War in 1967 Lee felt
reassured that Singapore's military
could effectively meet any challenges
this newfound confidence LED Singapore
to make significant military purchases
including 72 tanks from Israel in 1968
and establishing an Israeli Embassy in
1969 additionally in a struggle to find
ways to grow Singapore's economy Lee
will draw inspiration from Israel's
development strategies and leap Rob the
region by forging economic ties with the
industrial countries a UND DP expert
working in Singapore described to me how
Israel had leaped frogged its
neighbors neighbors who boycotted them
and exported to Europe and America
fruits flowers many other things I
thought to myself why not seek links
with the developed countries get
industrial investments from Europe Japan
and America today the two Nations enjoy
a close partnership spanning from
Healthcare to technology and defense but
despite the strong Alliance Singapore
has consistently advocated for a
two-state solution to resolve the
Israeli Palestinian conflict we believe
that the two sides have to live in peace
there's really no alternative to that
and to live in peace the only way to get
there is to have a two-state solution
Lee himself would maintain a careful
distance from appearing too close to
Israel visiting only once after the
signing of the slow Peace Accords as
record by former foreign affairs
minister Geor Gio in this speech I and
many long-standing Singapore friends of
Israel are troubled by some of these
Trends in Israeli
Society Singapore has always supported a
two-state solution in the
UN Liu only agreed to visit Israel in
1994 after Israel had signed the Oslo
Accord it was his first and last visit
to Israel more recently now deleted
Facebook posts made by the Israeli
Embassy in Singapore prompted strong
backlash from various ministers
reaffirming Singapore's commitment to
maintain religious Harmony that post on
the Israeli Embassy social media page is
completely unacceptable this post is an
astonishing attempt to rewrite history
the writer of the post should look at un
resolutions see if Israel's actions in
the past few decades have been
consistent with international law before
trying to rewrite history and earlier
this year Singapore voted in favor of a
UN resolution supporting Palestinian
membership reaffirming its commitment to
a two-state solution Singapore has just
voted in favor of a resolution at the
United Nations General Assembly that
expresses support for the admission of
Palestine as a UN member the two-state
solution is foundational to resolving
this longstanding conflict but now let's
delve into lean U stock warnings about
the Middle East in his final book
published in 2013 he characterized the
Israeli Palestinian conflict as the
Region's most pressing issue emphasizing
that its resolution is essential for
achieving broader peace in the Middle
East however he cautioned that with each
passing day the likelihood of a
permanent solution diminishes he pointed
to the powerful influence of the
pro-israel lobby in the US which has
enabled Highline positions to dominate
Israeli leadership Lee also emphasized
that the illegal expansion of Israeli
settlements viewed by Ultra
conservatives as a Divine Right further
undermines any potential peace agreement
Lee would also criticize US foreign
policy asserting that America is the
only Power that can pressure Israel he
argued that unless they cut off military
and financial aid which has amounted to
over $300 billion since 1949 Israel has
little incentive to change its course
they believe that only the United States
can play the kind of role that will with
Israel that will bring about a solution
yes and that the United States has to
take the lead and exert some real
leadership m and make sure that there's
progress towards that and the United
States finally is not doing it yes this
ongoing conflict not only undermines
America's credibility but also fills
anti-American sentiment worldwide making
it easier for jihadists to recruit young
people and to spread terrorism why have
they done this they say it's because
Americans have supported the Israelis
who have been crued and oppressive to
the Palestinians they say the Russians
have killed the chants they say the
killed the Muslims in Bosnia they don't
consider all these separate incidents to
be disparate events connected with each
country is Every Act of Cruelty every
atrocity every Massacre of any Muslim
anywhere in the world is a crime to all
Muslims anywhere in the world so let us
all join
together and hit out at those who hit us
and who is the ring
leader America Lee would state that if
the US can adopt a more neutral stance
and genuinely pursue a two-state
solution will solve many other problems
and improve America's standing and
policies in the region however Lee
expressed concerns about Iran viewing it
as a significant obstacle to any peace
deal he believes that Iran Harbors
Ambitions to dominate the region driven
by the Sunni Shiite divide that dates
back Millennia but also a deep-seated
pride in its Persian Imperial past where
it once held considerable power and
influence last night I had the foreign
minister of Iran here yes for a long
conversation yeah says that they're
ready to be engaged about the bomb that
they don't really want the bomb yeah you
don't believe that do you it' be
impolite for me to express my uh
disbelief but I think anybody who says
he doesn't want a
bomb uh if he can get one isn't really
being honest because because because the
pakistanis have the
bomb so why not they the Israelis have a
bomb why not they no it's a dangerous
world has that he believes that Israel
will not be able to prevent Iran from
developing a nuclear weapon unless the
Americans decide to launch a grand
Invasion which Lee beli was close to
Impossible given how they handled Iraq
and even if Israel opted for a
preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear
facilities Lee argued that Iran would
likely find ways to continue its
development deeper underground beyond
the reach of Israeli strikes this
scenario will trigger nuclear arms race
in the Middle East and increase the
chance of a serious miscalculation that
could lead to the first use of nuclear
weapons since World War II what do you
think the likelihood is that a bomb will
fall in the wrong hands and it'll be set
off I once wrote a fantasy piece for the
economist 50 years from now so I had one
little paragraph in which I
said and finally the bomb was used and
it was in the middle
East
because in a conflict between Israelis
and Arabs and
Muslims
rationality dissolves and fear takes
over
yes but they didn't publish that they
they decided it was too provocative they
cancel it but I still
believe that's the highest risk
ultimately Lee believed that resolving
these critical issues hinged on the
influence of what he called the 2,000
Jews in America but in the end he
concedes that the Israeli Palestinian
conflict today is an unsolvable problem
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