What role does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict play in radicalisation?

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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has served as a trigger for radicalisation among individuals in Singapore.

Two Singaporeans were recently dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) whose radicalisation was directly linked to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These cases highlight a concerning trend where foreign conflicts are exploited to fuel extremist ideologies domestically. The government has emphasised the importance of preventing such narratives from taking root within Singaporean society.
Individuals Triggered by Foreign Conflict

Tarmizi Mohd Taha, a 30-year-old customer service officer, and Cyrus Dzulqarnain Al-Shahriar, a 19-year-old student, were issued an Order of Detention (OD) and a Restriction Order (RO) respectively in March this year. Both individuals, though their cases were unrelated, became radicalised due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They represent the seventh and eighth Singaporeans whose radicalisation was attributed to this specific foreign conflict.
Exploitation of Extremist Narratives

The Internal Security Department (ISD) has noted that extremist narratives capitalising on foreign conflicts pose a threat to Singapore's social cohesion. The department stressed that such narratives, even when stemming from deeply held concerns about humanitarian issues, must not be allowed to gain traction. This underscores the government's commitment to firmly addressing any support or promotion of armed violence, regardless of the ideological justification.
Growing Diversity of Extremist Ideologies

The case of Cyrus Dzulqarnain Al-Shahriar, a student, also points to the increasing diversity of violent extremist ideologies that contribute to self-radicalisation, particularly among the youth. This suggests that the radicalisation landscape is evolving, with foreign conflicts acting as a common catalyst for individuals to adopt extremist viewpoints and intentions.

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What role does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict play in radicalisation?

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