According to a Straits Times report, Balakrishnan said Singapore’s key consideration in doing so would be that such a move should help towards achieving peace and a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

“In particular, there will need to be an effective Palestinian government that accepts Israel’s right to exist and categorically rejects terrorism,” the minister told Singapore’s Parliament.

“We urge both sides to seize the moment to take steps towards long-lasting peace and put an end to the suffering that has gone on for too long.

“Ultimately, Israelis and Palestinians would need to exercise leadership and would have to work together to forge a better future for their peoples.

“As Singapore is a friend to both, we will continue to offer our encouragement and tangible support to both Palestinians and Israelis.”

He added that Singapore had consistently supported the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland.

Balakrishnan was responding to questions about Singapore’s decision to vote in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on May 10 expressing support for Palestinian membership in the UN.

He said Singapore voted on the matter after careful consideration in the hope that Palestine and Israel would resume direct negotiations towards a two-state solution at a time when the prospects were becoming increasingly bleak.

Balakrishnan also said Singapore’s support for the Palestinian Authority (PA) was not subject to whether there was a formal recognition of the state, adding that Singapore would continue to engage with the PA and continue to implement a S$10 million (RM34.7 million) technical assistance package to help it build capacity and “prepare for statehood”.

Singapore has trained more than 750 Palestinian officials in a variety of areas, including diplomacy, economic management and urban planning.

Balakrishnan said the republic had also provided scholarships to Palestinian officials to further their post-graduate studies in Singapore, adding that there had been three recipients of such scholarships this year.