In 2019, Singapore and Israel mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. Though bilateral ties between the two countries began soon after Singapore’s independence from Malaysia, the depth of this relationship has rarely been publicised because of political sensitivities, given the position taken by the Republic’s Muslim-dominant neighbours towards the Jewish state.
Beating the Odds Together is a book jointly published by the Middle East Institute at National University of Singapore (MEI) and World Scientific (WS) to commemorate this milestone in bilateral ties.
Essays in the volume detail — via multiple accounts, for the first time — the inside story of how Israel helped the Republic establish the Singapore Armed Forces when others declined Singapore’s calls for help. They also trace the evolution of the relationship beyond security, to the fields of business, academia, research, technology and education.
WS Managing Director Max Phua said: “This is an excellent volume that documents the strong bond and fruitful relationship between Singapore and Israel over the decades.”
Former Foreign Minister George Yeo, who wrote a chapter, launched the book on 9 December 2019 with a speech.
Copies of the book can be purchased from WS via their website or from MEI directly.
