Israeli Prime Minister Calls for Immediate Withdrawal of UNIFIL Forces from Danger
October 13, 2024, 1:19 pm

Israeli Prime Minister Calls for Immediate Withdrawal of UNIFIL Forces from Danger

بريطانيا تعتذر عن استقبال نيتنياهو بالتزامن مع قمة الناتو

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday to immediately remove the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from "danger."

In a video statement directed at Guterres, Netanyahu said, "Remove UNIFIL forces from danger. This must be done now and without delay," following reports that at least five UNIFIL personnel were injured in recent days amid clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu added, "I would like to address the UN Secretary-General directly: It is time to extract UNIFIL forces from combat zones. The Israeli army has repeatedly requested this, only to be met with repeated refusals."

He claimed that "the purpose of this refusal is to provide a human shield for Hezbollah fighters. Your (Guterres') failure to withdraw UNIFIL troops effectively renders them hostages in the hands of Hezbollah. This puts them at risk and also endangers the lives of our soldiers."

He continued, "We regret the injuries to UNIFIL personnel and are doing everything we can to avoid such incidents. However, the straightforward and necessary way to ensure their safety is to simply remove them from the danger zone."

He stated, "Mr. Secretary-General, extract UNIFIL forces from conflict areas. This needs to happen now, immediately."

He concluded by saying, "Unfortunately, some European leaders are exerting pressure in the wrong direction. Instead of criticizing Israel, they should direct their criticism towards Hezbollah, which uses UNIFIL as human shields, just as Hamas uses UNRWA as a human shield in Gaza. Regrettably, UNRWA there cooperates with Hamas."

Israeli airstrikes have shaken the main base of peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, prompting Guterres and Western countries to condemn the attacks. UNIFIL described the assault as a "serious development" and emphasized the need to ensure the safety of UN peacekeeping personnel and their property.

France summoned the Israeli ambassador and issued a joint statement with Italy and Spain condemning such attacks as "unjustifiable." U.S. President Joe Biden stated he requested that Israel refrain from targeting UNIFIL forces. Russia expressed its "outrage" and called on Israel to cease hostilities against peacekeeping forces.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited a year ago when the group began launching rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas at the onset of the Gaza war.

Israel has intensified its military operations in recent weeks, bombing southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and other regions, resulting in the deaths of numerous senior Hezbollah leaders, and has also sent ground troops across the border.

The extensive Israeli operation has led to the displacement of over 1.2 million people, according to the Lebanese government, which reports more than 2,100 deaths and 10,000 injuries during over a year of fighting. The statistics do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but include dozens of women and children.

Six Fatalities Reported in Daraa Province Amidst Ongoing Violence and Instability Israeli Military Operations Intensify in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions

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.