In the early hours of 7 October, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance (Hamas) suddenly launched a surprise attack on Israel, and at least 5,000 rockets were fired directly at Israel itself, and Israel immediately entered a "state of war". Since then, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated abruptly, causing more than 5,000 casualties and even risks developing into a new Middle East war.
After the incident, countries around the world spoke one after another. The United States, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom spoke to condemn the Hamas attack and firmly support Israel. China, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Singapore and other countries have called on both sides to exercise restraint and protect civilians.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement strongly condemning the bloody clashes in the Gaza Strip and calling on all parties to cease fire immediately and make every effort to ensure the safety of civilians. Do not go to the Israeli-Palestinian area unless necessary, and Singaporeans in Israel will be evacuated as soon as possible.
Some netizens had some doubts after in-depth understanding of the two countries of Palestine and Israel. Israel, a small country covering an area of only 25,000 square kilometers and a population of less than 10 million, has faced constant conflicts since its debut in 1948, but it has almost never lost a war, and it is a proper hegemon in the Middle East.
So why is Singapore called "Israel of the East"?!
"Israel of the East" Singapore VS Israel
It is also a small country with few land, few people and few resources
Developed into the economic powerhouse it is today
There are 37 developed countries officially recognized by the United Nations in the world, and only 4 in Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Israel.
It is very fated that the same Asian countries, the same super small countries, the same founding in the last century, and the development of Singapore and Israel that are comparable to today. Who let Singapore still have the title of "Israel of the East"~
In 1948, when the state of Israel was founded, the population was only hundreds of thousands, there were no resources, the country was barren, there was nothing but sand, and the land area was only as large as Beijing and Tianjin. People have no money and no resources, and the entire national economy is in question.
But it is such a weak and small country that in a few decades, it has become a superpower in the Middle East, rich and rich.
Singapore's development is almost a "replica of Israel". Forced to become independent in 1965, there was nothing but people in the country and an area of only one island, and even the father of the nation, Lee Kuan Yew, feared that Singapore would not survive in the world.
But now, Singapore has developed into the third financial center in the world and the first in Asia, which has shocked many people's jaws.
Not to mention that Singapore is also known as the "Israel of the East", the two countries are too similar in their paths, and their strength is now comparable.
Singapore has a poor geographical structure
Surrounded by great powers like Israel
The development of Singapore and Israel is deeply jeopardized by geopolitics.
Israel is surrounded by Islamic countries, and it can be said that it has not had a single ally, and almost all of them have fought.
Singapore, also surrounded by Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries, compared to these two countries, Singapore is almost like a newborn child.
Singapore is separated from Malaysia by a bridge, and the Indonesian island of Batam, and the geographical difference is comparable to Israel.
The reason why Singapore joined Malaysia was because it was worried that this small island nation would not be able to survive in the world. Unfortunately, he was later kicked out of Malaysia and forced to become independent.
Singapore's strategic depth is too small
Like Israel, it faces the same national protection dilemma
Singapore is not without its shortcomings, and like Israel, the country is too small to have enough strategic depth. And compared with Israel's area of more than 20,000 square meters, Singapore is only 733 square meters, not to mention the depth, it is simply a small island. In the world, Singapore is also known as the "Little Red Dot".
On the world map, Singapore can only see one point.
So how did Singapore solve this problem? It is very similar to Israel's approach. Israel has reached peace agreements with Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, and has become an ally and partner with the United States, maintaining friendly and cooperative relations with the European Union, Canada, Australia, India, Japan and other countries.
Like Israel, Singapore maintains good relations with many countries in the international community.
Both Western and Eastern countries have good relations with Singapore. Israel is also very unhappy with its neighbors, but Singapore has no enemies in the world. It is precisely for this reason that Trump's meeting with Kim Jong-un, the Xi-Ma meeting, and the cross-strait Wang-Koo talks were all held in Singapore.
The international attitude of the two countries is similar
Establish alliances with many countries to uphold international norms
Like Israel, Singapore actively participates in international events and is committed to the purposes of the United Nations and national interests. When the rest of the world clashes, international rules come first. When Founding Father Lee Kuan Yew was alive, Singapore was firmly opposed to Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia. After Lee Kuan Yew's death, Singapore remained unequivocal in its opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
As Lee Kuan Yew said: If we cannot uphold justice internationally, then if Singapore is invaded, no one will uphold justice for Singapore.
Singapore is ethnic
It is a multicultural country with Israel
As a multicultural country, Singapore's multiculture is comparable to Israel.
About 75 per cent of Israel's population is Jewish, 20 per cent Arab, and the rest are minorities. Jews, Arabs, Druze Christians, and other groups live together in this land, and their cultures, languages, and religious traditions together make up Israel's pluralistic society.
There are 35 popular languages spoken in the country, the official language is Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian are also commonly spoken languages.
Not to mention Singapore, Chinese, Malays, Indians, Europeans and Americans make up the group of Singaporeans, living together and full of multicultural customs. Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam and other places are full of exotic atmosphere.
Singapore is also a multilingual country, with Malay Chinese and English as the official language, as well as Mandarin and Tamil.
It is a multi-cultural country with Israel.
Singapore strangles the Strait of Malacca
Israel is located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe
Geographically take flights to both countries
Although Singapore and Israel are surrounded by great powers, lack of people and lack of resources, the excellent geographical location of the two countries brings great advantages.
Located at the junction of three continents, Asia, Africa and Europe, Israel is one of the oldest international transportation arteries in the world, and it is located in a strategic location in the world.
Oil resources are very rich, and controlling here is equivalent to controlling the Middle East and controlling the world's oil.
The same is true of Singapore, which is very blessed with its proximity to the Strait of Malacca, and it can even be said to be guarding the Strait of Malacca.
The Strait of Malacca is the main shipping lane between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and it is also the shortest and fastest shipping lane between the two oceans, making it one of the most important trunk shipping lanes in the world, known as the "Lifeline of the Oriental Sea".
The Strait of Malacca is used by more than 400 shipping routes around the world, and more than 70,000 cargo ships pass through it every year. Therefore, the Strait of Malacca is vital to the flow of global trade.
Singapore is located in such an excellent geographical advantage, with its own port, vigorously developing an export-oriented economy, and becoming one of the four Asian tigers in one fell swoop.
The economic development of the two countries is rapid
Singapore may be small, but its economy is more developed than Israel's
How strong are the economies of Israel and Singapore today?
Let's take a look at Israel first:
In 2022, Israel's GDP will be equivalent to $524.112 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.3%, a three-year average growth of 9.2%, and a per capita GDP of $54,878, a year-on-year increase of 5.2%.
According to statistics, there are more than 1,500 start-ups in Israel, and the amount of financing has reached more than $1 billion!
Known as the "world's smallest superpower".
Singapore, with its "Israel of the East", is also not to be outdone.
In 2022, Singapore's GDP per capita reached US$83,000, ranking seventh in the world after Luxembourg, Bermuda, Norway, Ireland, Switzerland and Qatar. More powerful than Israel.
In the Global Financial Centres Index, Singapore surpassed Tokyo and Hong Kong in 2023 to rank first in Asia and third globally.
It is reported that so far, more than 7,000 multinational companies have invested in the city, and one-third of the world's top 500 companies have their Asian headquarters in Singapore.
Singapore, known as the "Israel of the East", has a stronger economy than Israel.
Singapore is a strong manufacturing industry
The annual output value is more than S$40 billion
Secondly, although Singapore is a small country, its industrial strength is not small at all, more powerful than Israel.
Israel's high-tech industry is extremely developed, and technology giants such as Microsoft and Intel have established R&D centers in Israel.
What about Singapore? It is one of the few countries in the world whose manufacturing industry exceeds 20% of the country's total GDP, and is also the fourth largest producer of high-tech products in the world, with strong competitiveness in the fields of electronics, machinery manufacturing, petrochemicals, and biomedicine.
It is understood that 20% of the world's mobile phone chips are produced in Singapore, the annual output value of the machinery manufacturing industry can be more than 40 billion Singapore dollars, and it is also the world's third largest oil refining base, and the oil output value accounts for 40% of the country's gross domestic product...
In recent years, Sinovac Group plans to invest about RMB 10 billion to set up research facilities and international business headquarters in Singapore. China's new energy vehicle NIO, which has a market value of nearly 200 billion yuan, rang the bell on the Singapore Exchange and set up an artificial intelligence and autonomous driving research and development center; Large multinational companies such as Dyson, VinFast, Moderna, Alibaba, and Tencent have chosen Singapore to set up their headquarters in Asia or globally.
Source: SGX
According to the data, in 2022, the largest contributor to Singapore's GDP is manufacturing (21.0%).
As you can imagine, Singapore's manufacturing level is quite strong.
Singapore education is known worldwide
The annual investment amounts to about 17% of the total budget
More than Israeli investment
In addition, Singapore's education level, like Israel's, is very invested!
It is reported that 8.5% of Israel's GDP is spent on education, and half of the population has higher education. In the case of grassroots farmers, 99% of farmers have received specialized agricultural education. One can imagine how widespread education is in Israel.
Education in Singapore, not to mention, is favored by parents from all over the world.
It is reported that Singapore's Ministry of Education is the second largest fiscal expenditure department after the Ministry of Defence. Investment in education amounted to S$12.9 billion, or 17 per cent of the country's total budget.
Singapore topped the list in a new global ranking of education quality published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Singapore's unique strength is the best in the world in both Chinese and English, and it is also known as one of the most successful education systems in the world.
In addition to schooling, the Singapore government has been vigorously promoting lifelong learning and advocating lifelong learning. As long as you are willing to study, the state will fund you.
Singapore spends $12 billion a year on its military
Fully equipped by land, sea and air, it is the most luxurious in Southeast Asia
Although Singapore is a small country, its military strength is not small.
In the 2023 military ranking released by the world-renowned military website "Global Fire Power" (GFP) this year, Singapore ranked 29th in the world and second in Southeast Asia, second only to Indonesia, and beat Malaysia next door!
But in fact, in terms of data, Singapore's military strength can top the list of 10 ASEAN countries.
Singapore's armament is no problem. Singapore, which has a developed economy, is quite rich and willing to spend.
It is understood that Singapore's average annual military expenditure is as high as 12 billion US dollars, ranking first among ASEAN countries.
The Singapore Air Force has more than 237 aircraft, including 100 fighter jets, 9 transport aircraft, and 36 trainer aircraft of various kinds, including 9 special mission aircraft such as reconnaissance aircraft, 10 aerial tankers, 73 helicopters and 18 attack helicopters.
The Singapore Army has more than 170 tanks of various types, more than 3,100 armored vehicles, including 48 artillery pieces such as self-propelled howitzers, 77 towed artillery pieces, and 24 missile or rocket launchers.
The Singapore Navy has more than 40 warships of various types, 6 Victory-class corvettes, 8 Independence-class offshore mission ships, 4 Tenacious ship landing craft, 4 conventional attack submarines, and three naval bases namely Blarney Naval Base, Vigorous Naval Base and Changi Base. A few days ago, the Type 218SG submarine was purchased from Germany.
In recent years, Singapore has acquired world-class weapons and equipment through outsourcing and self-research and development. In the entire Southeast Asian region, the quality of armaments is the highest, and the level of combat power cannot be underestimated.
It is no exaggeration to say that Singapore is the number one military power in Southeast Asia.
Taking 10,000 steps back, even if Singapore itself is occupied, Singapore has permanent troops in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei and other places. At that time, the garrison there will cooperate with the local troops and counterattack Singapore!
Singapore's 72,000 regular army and one million militia
For every square metre, 98 troops overwhelm Israel
In terms of military strength, Singapore currently has an active standing force of about 72,000 people, including 50,000 in the army, 13,500 in the air force and 9,000 in the navy. There are also about 300,000 reservists, and 1.29 million militia civil defense mobilizations.
In other words, in the event of war, Singapore can pull up 370,000 troops at any time, and a million militiamen will serve as the final line of defense to defend Singapore!
Looking at the number of people alone, 72,000 is very inconspicuous, but in Singapore, a small place of only 733 square kilometers and a permanent population of 4.15 million, it is a lot. Roughly calculated, Singapore has 98 regular soldiers per square kilometer, and 1 in every 58 permanent residents is a regular army!
This ratio far exceeds Israel's military strength of less than 7 people per unit area, let alone other military powers.
Singapore, like Israel, is a soldier
At the age of 18, he had to serve and desertion would go to jail
Not only that, but Singapore, like Israel, implements a system of all-people soldiers.
In Singapore, all male citizens and second-generation permanent residents aged 18 or above are required to perform military service.
Upon passing the medical examination, they will become full-time active duty military personnel assigned to units under the Republic of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) or Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for a period of 24 months.
After they retire at the end of their service, they are put into the reserve and become "reserve soldiers". Every year, he regularly returns to the camp to participate in exercises, learn new weapons, conduct physical training, etc., and ensure that the annual physical examination is passed, which lasts for 10 years.
In order to protect national security, Singapore has also set strict rules on the "All People are Soldiers" system: deserters can be fined up to S$10,000, or jailed for up to three years, or both.
And the longer the desertion, the more serious the sentence!
Even if you renounce your Singapore citizenship halfway through and become a foreign citizen, you have to serve, otherwise you will be regarded as a desertion!
Before that, a Singaporean man washed dishes for 28 years as a migrant worker in the UK for military service, and was finally sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison... Others were born in Singapore, settled in Hong Kong, and eventually sentenced to six months in prison after returning home after evading national service for 10 years.
summary
These reasons are why Singapore has the name "Israel of the East", Singapore and Israel have too many similarities~