US President says two-state solution is the answer to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
May 22, 2021, 11:55 am

Palestinian

People in Gaza are assessing the damage following the ceasefire. Pic: AP

US President Joe Biden has said a two-state solution is the only answer to resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people.

Speaking at a White House news conference, Mr Biden said that he was praying that the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would hold.

The US administration worked in the background, along with Egypt, to secure an end to the conflict which lasted 11 days.

Some 248 Palestinians - including 66 children - died, while 12 people in Israel died.

The ceasefire came into effect at 2am local time - 12am UK time - on Friday.

Mr Biden has said that the US will work with the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, and not Hamas, in order to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Since the ceasefire, the United Nations has sent 13 trucks with food, COVID vaccines and other medical supplies into Gaza, with $18.6m (£13.1m) in emergency humanitarian aid allocated to the region.

The US has said it will also help Israel replenish its supply of interceptor missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a "new level of force" if Hamas launches any attacks following the ceasefire.

"If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a drizzle of rockets, it is wrong," he warned.

Mr Biden, speaking at the White House, added: "Let's get something straight here: until the region says unequivocally they acknowledge the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish state, there will be no peace.

"I'm praying this ceasefire will hold. I take Bibi Netanyahu - when he gives me his word - I take him at his word. He's never broken his word to me."

The ceasefire faced its first test on Friday afternoon, when tens of thousands of Palestinians attended Friday Prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem - where tensions first began.

Some threw stones at Israeli police, who fired stun grenades and tear gas in return, in an echo of the scenes that triggered the 11-day conflict.

Twenty Palestinians were arrested at the gates, although it is unclear what started the clashes at the mosque compound - a holy site for both Muslims and Jews - who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

An Israeli Police foreign spokesman claimed "hundreds of people threw rocks and petrol bombs at police officers", saying Israeli forces "dispersed rioters".

There were similar clashes in the West Bank.

Sky News correspondent Mark Stone, who is in the region, said the elusive two-state solution was as far away as ever but that both sides were likely to gain politically.

Following the end of the conflict, people in Gaza who were sheltering in UN schools have since left the facilities.

From a peak of 66,000 people crammed into the shelters, fewer than 1,000 remain, according to a UN spokesperson.

Rescue workers have been recovering bodies, including one of a three-year-old girl, according to the Red Crescent emergency services.

The 11 days of fighting in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank were the worst seen in the region since 2014.

Hamas and other militant groups fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israeli cities, with Israel conducting hundreds of airstrikes.

Sky news, 22 May 2021 06:33

The US President says two-state solution is the answer to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Source Image AP

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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.