Former Foreign Minister George Yeo officiated at the book launch of Beating the Odds Together: 50 Years of Singapore–Israel Ties on 9 December 2019 at The Arts House. In his speech, he recounted how Israel gave the newly independent Singapore critical assistance and how the friendship between the two countries blossomed in the ensuing years.

Guests at the event included Israeli Ambassador Sagi Karni, Singapore’s Ambassador to Israel Winston Choo, MEI Chairman Bilahari Kausikan, the book’s editor Mr Mattia Tomba as well as World Scientific Publishing Director Chua Hong Koon.

The volume, jointly published by MEI and World Scientific Publishing, commemorates the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Lion City and the Start-up Nation in 2019.

Thirteen Singaporeans and Israelis contributed articles to the volume, which examines the similarities and differences between the two states, and the expansion of relationships beyond security to the fields of business, academia, research, technology and education. For the first time, multiple accounts will shed light on the inside story of how Israel helped Singapore to establish the Singapore Armed Forces.