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Book Review

**Autobiography of Adel Basbous**
Dora Silwan Wadi Sir and Vice Versa
Are You a Refugee or a Displaced Person?
The history of the Palestinian cause and the marches of its people is nothing but wars and migration. Despite this, the belonging to Palestine remains deeply rooted within the Palestinian psyche, and the hope for return has not faded for sixty-seven years since the Nakba.
The autobiographies and memoirs of Palestinian refugees revolve around the Nakba of 1948 and the tragedies of migration that families have endured. Palestinians found themselves living lives they did not plan, which automatically reflected on the memories of the refugees and the documented narratives of writers, most of which express the pain of uprooting from their land and living in refugee camps while enduring its harsh experiences. All of this served as a foundation for the refugees to move forward toward success, a state that neither time nor circumstance could change.
**Autobiographies**
In the introduction to her book "Gathering Scattered Papers," author Selwa Al-Jarah, born in Haifa in 1946, writes:
"I will write about myself, about Selwa Al-Jarah, her life and experiences, her successes and disappointments in a journey that extended from the Palestine where I was born and grew up in love for it, to Iraq."
Refugee and Displaced at the Same Time
After nearly two decades of occupation in Palestine and after the refugee had adapted to the new reality, a second war struck: the June War of 1967, which would see the remaining parts of Palestine fall under occupation.
"The world began to call us displaced," wrote Mourid Barghouti in "I Saw Ramallah."
Thus, there emerged two segments in Palestinian society: the refugees, a product of the Nakba, and the displaced, a product of the setback.
This is similar to how writer Adel Basbous introduced himself in his autobiography "Dora Silwan Wadi Sir and Vice Versa," published by Al-An Publishing and Distribution in 2024:
"In a school in Wadi Sir, the teacher asked us who among you is a refugee and who is displaced?"
When we did not understand the question, he explained:
"A refugee is someone whose family fled to the eastern bank after the 1948 war, while a displaced person is someone whose family moved from the West Bank to the eastern bank this year, meaning 1967."
I replied:
"Sir, I am both a refugee and displaced at the same time: I am a refugee whose family tasted the bitterness of displacement in 1948 and then drank from the same extremely bitter cup again this year, 1967."
**Tents and Camps**
In his autobiography "A Homeland of Words," writer Abdel Bari Atwan, originally from Asdod, notes:
"That small village where my father and mother lived until the Nakba of 1948. When the villagers reached the Deir al-Balah refugee camp, they found that the United Nations had established large cities made of fabric, organizing the tents in a way that placed those coming from the same place side by side. The whole family had to share the tent with three of my aunts, my grandfather, and two uncles. Only God knows how that happened. But my mother carried me in that tent; I was born in February 1950."
**Dora Silwan Wadi Sir**
Adel Basbous's memoirs:
"I opened my eyes to this life in the late 1950s in Dora, where our origins trace back to the occupied Dawayima during the Nakba of 1948. The family had no choice but to settle in Dora and adapt to the new situation, which was not comfortable, not only due to the difficulty of meeting living requirements like housing and work that generates income but also because of the label or 'stigma' that began to follow them wherever they went. The term 'refugee' was a new designation alien to their ears, harsh on their hearts, and shocking to their minds."
After years of hardship, the family decided to move to the town of Silwan in the Jerusalem district, where they would remain until the June War of 1967.
**Crossing the Bridge**
Regarding that, Basbous continues:
"On the morning of Monday, June 5, in Jerusalem, the war began. I heard the elders expressing fear of its outbreak... the Jews are coming."
The truth is that the fear of the residents was not from the enemy's weapons but from signs that began to confirm that the West Bank had fallen under occupation!
The fear of a repeat of the Deir Yassin and Kafr Qasim massacres dominated the minds of the residents, and the urgent question became: "What will happen to our daughters and women?"
Thus, everyone prepared to leave
Ruqayyah Al-Alami
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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