Writer/Ayoub Nasser

Why In Iran... Not In Qatar ?

The worst news one could wake up to in these dark days for the Arab and Islamic nations, amidst the turbulent and tumultuous waves of this vast sea, is the death of one of its men, someone who has influenced many of its youth. This news brings with it deep feelings of pain and sorrow. May God have mercy on the deceased and reward him abundantly.

As soon as the news of Ismail Haniyeh's assassination spread, it brought with it many questions. One of the most pressing was: Why was he assassinated in Iran and not in Qatar? There are numerous answers people have offered to this question—some suggest it was an attempt to embroil Iran in the conflict, others believe it was meant to embarrass Iran, and so on. However, I have a different answer that I would like to share with the esteemed reader.

In 1992, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres published a book titled "The New Middle East." After discussing the necessity of peace and asserting that Israel’s security can only be fully achieved through peace, as it cannot be defeated in war, Peres moved on to outline his vision for the new Middle East—a vision he dreams of and seeks to realize. This vision involves establishing agreements between Arab countries and Israel, arguing that this is feasible. He cited examples of France and Germany, as well as the United States and Japan, overcoming past conflicts to establish peace and cooperation. He noted that the barriers to such agreements and treaties—such as the extensive bloodshed and geographical distance that had separated these nations—do not exist between the Arab world and Israel, and if they do, they are much less significant.

Peres's vision for the new Middle East resembles the European Union, with Israel serving as the region's center and leader. He even hinted at the possibility of military agreements between the countries in the region, akin to a mutual defense pact, stating in Chapter Four: "The only way to ensure a reasonable level of national security in this era of ground-to-ground missiles and nuclear capabilities is to establish a regional system for monitoring and surveillance." He further suggested in Chapter Ten: "The Red Sea has a central strategic value, which is why it could become a bay of true comprehensive peace. We can take cooperative measures to build trust, such as establishing mutual early warning networks regarding military movements."

There are many more aspects contained within the pages of this book that I will refrain from delving into, as doing so would lead us away from the main purpose of this article, which is to answer the question posed above.

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From Peres's book and his words, the importance of peace with Arab countries to Israel becomes clear. Israel understands that its security cannot be ensured amidst ongoing conflicts and disputes with the region's countries, and the only way to guarantee its safety and stability is by forming a regional union similar to the European Union. This explains Israel’s eagerness to build strong relationships and establish economic and military agreements with Arab countries.

This strategic importance Israel places on good relations with Arab nations is what prevented it from assassinating Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar. Israel seeks to maintain its goodwill with the Arabs, and such an act would have embarrassed Arab countries and made them lose trust in Israel. This is a card that Arabs have not yet fully exploited to pressure Israel in its war with Gaza, unless the Arabs have already embraced Shimon Peres's vision regarding those he referred to as "fundamentalists."

What further supports this analysis is a past event when Mossad attempted to assassinate Khaled Mashal in Jordan. King Hussein, may God have mercy on him, threatened to cancel the peace treaty unless Israel provided the antidote. Israel complied, fearing the loss of the desired peace that would secure its safety and regional dominance.

Writer: Ayoub Nasser

Levant News

The 1988 Massacre of Political Prisoners in Iran Israel Prepares for Potential Attacks from Iran and Its Proxies

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.