Visiting the Maghain Aboth synagogue in Singapore, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel’s values are being challenged “by the forces of barbarism and intolerance.”
“This is a battle for the future of humanity. That future is represented by Israel which is also a diverse country, which also has minorities, which respects people and we see that same respect here in Singapore,” he says, referring to his visit to the Muslim countries of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, where he says he saw Jews practicing their religion openly.
Benjamin Netanyahu, third left, meeting with representatives of the Singapore Jewish community at the Magen Avot synagogue in Singapore on February 20, 2017. (GPO)
Netanyahu also compares Israel to the small island nation, saying they are both small economic powerhouses looked up to by many in the world.
“I believe that great powers around the world look at Israel and Singapore today and see tremendous opportunities. Tremendous. And one reason that is the case is we have an unbridled spirit and we put it to use,” he says. “That spirit is something that we have enshrined in our peoples for a long time, a long time. The Jewish peoples have passed learning from one generation to another, a desire, an inquisitive mindset and the ability to produce new things.”
Netanyahu is in Singapore for a short state visit before moving on to Australia on Tuesday.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 20, 2017
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