Assad Urges Immediate Halt to Israeli Atrocities at Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit
November 11, 2024, 2:54 pm

Assad Urges Immediate Halt to Israeli Atrocities at Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit

بشار الأسد \ تعبيرية \ 13

During his address at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit taking place in Riyadh, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad emphasized that the priority should be to stop the massacres, genocide, and killings in Palestine and Lebanon.

In his speech, Assad stated, "We met a year ago to condemn aggression, but the crime continues. We affirm the necessity to halt the Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon."

He continued, "We are not dealing with a state in the legal sense but with a colonial entity. However, Israeli crimes have persisted for years." He noted, "Last year, we called for an end to the aggression and protection of the Palestinians, yet the result of the year has been tens of thousands of martyrs and millions displaced in Palestine and Lebanon. In 2002, the Arabs proposed a peace initiative, and the response was more massacres against the Palestinians. In 1991, we Arab nations decided to engage in the game of 'American good intentions' by participating in the Madrid peace process, which turned our peace into a catalyst for their wars."

Assad remarked, "I will not speak of the Palestinians' historical rights or the necessity of upholding them, nor about the resilience of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples and our urgent duty to support them, nor about the legitimacy of resistance in both countries, which has embodied honor and dignity, represented by its noble leaders and brave fighters."

He stated, "We offer peace yet reap bloodshed. Changing the outcomes requires substituting the mechanisms and tools; what value do the rights of the Palestinian people hold if they do not possess the fundamental right to life?"

He stressed, "We must clarify our options. We do not engage with a state but with a colonial entity, and we do not deal with a people but with settlers who are closer to barbarism."

President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Riyadh today, accompanied by a delegation, to participate in the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit.

The conflict in Gaza erupted following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures, including those who died or were killed in captivity.

During the assault, militants kidnapped 251 individuals, 97 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 that the Israeli army claims are deceased. Since then, Israel has responded with devastating bombings and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 43,603 individuals, the majority civilians, according to the latest figures from Hamas’s health ministry.

The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where Hezbollah opened a front against Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of Hamas.

Since late September, Israel has intensified its airstrikes and begun ground operations in Lebanon, following nearly a year of border shelling exchanges with Iran-backed Hezbollah amid the ongoing Gaza war.

Preparatory Meeting for the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit Held in Riyadh Bashar al-Assad and the Islamic Summit: The Rhetoric of Peace and the Practice of Oppression

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.