Ankara's Hypocrisy.. Erdogan Condemns Israel While Ignoring His Country's Violations in Syria
Despite Erdogan's sharp criticisms of Israel, Turkey's expansionist policies in the region directly contribute to regional instability, making his calls for peace empty and lacking credibility
October 12, 2024, 9:25 pm

Ankara's Hypocrisy.. Erdogan Condemns Israel While Ignoring His Country's Violations in Syria

إسرائيل وتركيا/ أرشيفية

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made controversial statements about the situation in the Middle East, accusing Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza. He said these actions "are happening in plain sight and have taken their place in the pages of shame in human history."

Notably, these accusations come from the president of a country that occupies parts of Syria, raising serious doubts about Erdogan's integrity and his true commitment to the principles he claims to defend.

Erdogan added: "Israel is not only targeting stability in Palestine and Lebanon but is also working to spread the fire burning there to the region." He deliberately ignored Turkey's own role in igniting tensions in the region, especially through its ongoing military interventions in Syria and Iraq.

The Turkish President claimed that "this shame stains the foreheads of supporters of the terrorist Zionist organization known today as Israel and will haunt them for generations." Erdogan uses strong language against Israel, forgetting the international criticism directed at Turkey for its support of armed groups in Syria and Libya, revealing a blatant double standard in Turkish foreign policy.

Regarding Syria, Erdogan claimed that Turkey respects its territorial unity, saying: "We will continue to work for the restoration of Syria's unity and the achievement of peace and stability there." However, according to observers, this statement blatantly contradicts the reality on the ground, where Turkish forces continue to occupy large parts of northern Syria, including the city of Afrin, in a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law.

In an attempt to justify the Turkish military presence, Erdogan referred to what he described as "an alliance force consisting of the United States, Britain, and Germany protecting the terrorist PKK/YPG organization," in an attempt to divert attention from Turkish violations in Syria and portray the Turkish military intervention as a defensive action, ignoring the fact that the Turkish presence in Syria constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.

Erdogan concluded his statements by saying: "We need to save the region through solidarity, leaving aside narrow interest calculations." According to observers, this is a hollow call for solidarity in light of Turkey's expansionist policies in the region, which clearly seek to achieve its own interests at the expense of neighboring countries' sovereignty and the stability of the region as a whole.

According to observers, Erdogan's statements reveal deep contradictions in Turkish foreign policy, as Ankara tries to present itself as a regional power supporting peace while continuing its violations of neighboring countries' sovereignty and military interventions that destabilize the region.

Levant - Agencies

War Olive Crops in Afrin: Organized Plunder of Resources and Extortion of Indigenous Residents

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.