Israeli Delegation Linked to Ben-Gvir Visited Singapore Amidst Death Penalty Law

A delegation from Israel's Prison Service and National Security Ministry, including individuals close to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, made a discreet visit to Singapore in May. The visit occurred shortly after Israel passed a law enabling the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners convicted of "terrorist" offenses. The delegation was reportedly led by Hananel Dorfman, a close associate of Ben-Gvir, and included the Director-General of the National Security Ministry, Rafeal Ingber, along with other senior officials.

According to a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the visit was requested by Singapore and conducted under strict secrecy. While not officially on the agenda, sources indicated that the death penalty was discussed during the visit. This is significant as Singapore, like Japan, is one of the few countries that still carries out executions by hanging, a method also specified in Israel's new law. Haaretz cited Amnesty International data showing Singapore executed fifteen individuals for drug trafficking offenses in 2023.

The Israeli delegation met with senior officials from Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs. Haaretz reported that this was the first such meeting between representatives of the two sides since 2019, with cooperation primarily focused on advanced technological developments in policing and prisons. The participation of Dorfman, who has faced past investigations related to Jewish terrorism and allegations of bribery, was noted as particularly significant given his political and security proximity to Ben-Gvir.

Despite Singapore imposing sanctions in November on four Israeli far-right activists, including Ben-Gvir's associate Bentzi Gopstein, for violence against Palestinians, the report suggests Singapore maintained communication channels with Ben-Gvir and his associates. However, the Singaporean Embassy denied that the death penalty was discussed, stating the meetings were technical and focused on emergency preparedness, crime prevention, and forensics. They clarified that Dorfman, while part of the official delegation, did not personally participate in the discussions.

The Israeli National Security Ministry also denied any discussions about the death penalty, emphasizing a "very fruitful cooperation" with Singapore in counter-terrorism, serious organized crime, drug trafficking, and technology. The ministry noted that this year's delegation, for the first time, included senior officials from the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Prison Service.