“Because I don’t think it’s necessary, and would prefer not to share screenshots.
You asked a question I didn’t need to answer, and I gave you a quote.”
– Photographer Menacham Mendel Geisinsky to Wake Up, Singapore
An alleged IDF Lone Soldier from Singapore?
On 5 June 2024, Photographer Menacham Mendel Geisinsky (@officialmgphotos) posted a photo of a beaming female soldier wearing IDF fatigues on his Instagram page.
The photo featured a Singapore Flag and the word “Singapore” prominently. The photo has since been reposted on Twitter and popular Singaporean platforms like Plan B.
The caption of the photo read:-
IDF Lone Soldiers hail from diverse corners of the globe, united in their mission to defend Israel, their ancestral homeland.
Israel transcends mere geographical boundaries established in the 20th century; it embodies the collective dreams and aspirations of Jews dispersed across the world for generations. As the Jewish diaspora reconnected with their historic land in the 20th century, a profound sense of duty emerged, inspiring countless heroes like those depicted in the images above, committed to protecting and nurturing their cherished and eternal homeland.
The IDF Lone Solider website defines a lone solider as “a soldier in the IDF with no family in Israel to support him or her”, which includes “a new immigrant” or “a volunteer from abroad”. Lone soldiers can be non-Israelis of Jewish background who independently volunteer to serve in Israel’s Forces. According to the IDF, “Most lone soldiers are placed in combat units.”
Clearly, the post intended to give readers the impression that the IDF ‘Lone Soldier’ was from Singapore.
On 13 June 2024 at 12.44pm (Singapore Time), following questions from Wake Up Singapore, the photographer removed the post and limited the comments section.
Potential Offences under the National Symbols Act and Penal Code?
The use of national emblems like the Singapore flag is governed by the National Symbols Act and related subsidiary legislation.
In particular, the misuse of Singapore flag for “false endorsements”, and disrespectful use of the flag, attracts sanctions.
Notwithstanding the questionable use and display of the Singapore flag, it was clear from the Ministry of Home Affair’s press statement dated 10 March 2022 that it “is an offence for any person, whilst in Singapore, to wage, attempt to wage, or abet the waging of war, against the government of any power with which Singapore is not at war. For citizens of Singapore, in particular, even if they commit these acts whilst outside Singapore, they will be legally deemed to have committed them as if in Singapore, and hence liable for an offence.”
Further, on 5 April 2022, in response to a Parliamentary question filed by NCMP Hazel Poa, the Minister for Home Affairs and Law stated, in no uncertain terms, that it is an offence under s 125 of the Penal Code 1871 for a Singaporean to “wage, attempt to wage, or abet the waging of, war against the government of any power in alliance or at peace with the Singapore Government.”
For ease of reference, the relevant provision is set out below.
Needless to say, this is a grave offence which may even attract life imprisonment.
Questions from Wake Up Singapore to Menacham Mendel Geisinsky
If the woman in the photo was indeed Singaporean, she may be criminally liable.
If she was not a Singaporean, it is arguably a misleading post and a potential misuse of the Singapore Flag pursuant to the National Symbols Act.
The woman, who has since edited the username of her Instagram account, had both the Singapore and Israel flags in her bio.
With that backdrop in mind, Wake Up Singapore asked the photographer, Menacham Mendel Geisinsky, why he included the Singapore flag.
After an initial snarky remark, and a legal threat suing for copyright infringement (despite clear acknowledgement from Wake Up Singapore on the source of the photo), Menacham Mendel Geisinsky asserted that the woman was “born in and grew up in Singapore“.
At this juncture, we pause to note that Menacham Mendel Geisinsky informed Wake Up Singapore that posting screenshots of this conversation would attract another “lawsuit”.
However, he did not object to Wake Up Singapore quoting him (as opposed to screenshots).
Wake Up Singapore has elected to publish screenshots here in the spirit of full and frank disclosure, and to avoid any disputes as to authenticity. In any event, there is no substantial difference between copy-pasting what one says and screenshotting the same.
After it was brought to Menacham Mendel Geisinsky’s attention that the use of the Singapore flag was unusual, and that a Singaporean participating in IDF may attract criminal liability, the post was removed.
Menacham Mendel Geisinsky also informed Wake Up Singapore that the woman “might not actually be Singaporean”.
He added that he was made aware of Singapore’s sensitivity towards the conflict and the potential misleading impact of the inclusion of the National Flag:-
“Apparently, she’s might not actually be Singaporean, one of our editors inaccurately thought she was from there. I am hoping to find out where she is from for possibly a future post.
Additionally, I am hearing that apparently Singapore is very sensitive to the conflict and doesn’t want their flag associated particularly with any sides and wants to stay neutral, so I removed it. As I expect you to as well.”
Menacham Mendel Geisinsky’s answer suggests the possibility that the publication did not know where the woman was actually from before including the Singapore flag in the photo.
He ended the conversation by apologising for the “inconvenience.”
For completeness, the two assertions are not mutually exclusive. It is indeed entirely possible that the woman in the photo was not a Singaporean but was born and raised here.
She could have been a Permanent Resident or a foreign national who studied, and was previously based in, Singapore.
In the original Instagram post by Menacham Mendel Geisinsky (before the comments section was shut down), and subsequent reposts by Wake Up Singapore and Plan B, many tagged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Singapore Police Force in Singapore to bring the post to their attention.
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
‘Palestine, We See You’ – Yale-NUS Students show solidarity with Palestine during convocation
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