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(This Jan. 14 story deletes paragraph 15 and amends paragraph 3 after alcohol retailer African + Eastern clarified it does not stock Tura wine, contrary to an earlier communication.)
REHELIM, West Bank/DUBAI (Reuters) - Wine produced in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank and labelled “from the land of Israel” will soon be available for sale in the United Arab Emirates, settler business leaders said.
Palestinians have condemned the export deal, saying settlements are illegal under international law, a view shared by many countries but disputed by Israel.
After forging official relations with the UAE last year under a U.S.-brokered deal that enraged Palestinians, a business conglomerate in the Arab Gulf state says it has an import deal for wine and olive oil with the Tura Winery in the Rehelim settlement.
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+ January 12, 2021 BAYAD Center, the country’s biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform, has been named as the official payment solutions partner of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for loan settlement.
In a virtual partnership signing, the two financial institutions expressed their mutual aim to make GSIS loan repayment more accessible, convenient, and secure for all members and pensioners especially those in the provinces.
“Enabling simple and hassle-free over-the-counter financial transactions for borrowers is one way of helping them meet monthly obligations. It is our hope that they will be able to reap the full benefits of their loans, and at the same time efficiently manage and repay them on time. Ultimately, we want Bayad Center to be readily available for every Filipino’s financial needs, providing meaningful payment and financial services wherever they may be,” Bayad Center President and CEO Lawrence Ferrer said.
The announcement will burnish Netanyahu’s right-wing credentials in a tough campaign ahead of March elections, but it could anger Biden, who is opposed to settlement expansion