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Saudi, UK Discuss Developing Trade and Investment

A general view is seen of the London skyline from Canary Wharf in London, Britain, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
A general view is seen of the London skyline from Canary Wharf in London, Britain, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
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Saudi, UK Discuss Developing Trade and Investment

A general view is seen of the London skyline from Canary Wharf in London, Britain, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
A general view is seen of the London skyline from Canary Wharf in London, Britain, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

The Economic and Social Committee of the Saudi Arabia-UK Strategic Partnership Council held its third meeting in London, headed by Saudi Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, and UK Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps.

The meeting discussed improving bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in fields agreed upon in the Strategic Partnership, in addition to highlighting the significant economic and social progress recognized since the launch of the Saudi Vision 2030.

It also reaffirmed the continuous commitment to support the goals of the vision and the Saudi program for economic diversification, in addition to working to develop trade and investment between the two kingdoms.

The Saudi-UK Strategic Partnership Council seeks to boost economic relations in several fields, mainly financial services, especially FinTech (financial technology), open banking, green finance, and priority investment sectors.

It also aims at strengthening educational partnerships, cooperation in health care (including preparedness for epidemics) and health technology, and the general development of the entire healthcare system.

This comes in addition to cooperation in carbon capture, utilization and storage, hydrogen production, renewable energy sources, space, mining, pharmaceuticals, and aviation, and partnerships in the film, heritage, arts, tourism, and entertainment sectors.

The Economic and Social Committee held its first meeting in Jeddah in 2019.

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Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
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Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)

The United States on Thursday called on Israel to extend its cooperation with Palestinian banks for another year, to avoid blocking vital transactions in the occupied West Bank.

"I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to cut off a vital banking channel between Israel and the West Bank in response to three European countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

On June 30, however, Smotrich extended a waiver that allows cooperation between Israel's banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank for four months, according to Israeli media, according to AFP.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the decision on the waiver was made at a cabinet meeting in a "move that saw Israel legalize several West Bank settlement outposts."

The waiver was due to expire at the end of June, and the extension permitted Israeli banks to process payments for salaries and services to the Palestinian Authority in shekels, averting a blow to a Palestinian economy already devastated by the war in Gaza.

The Israeli threat raised serious concerns in the United States, which said at the time it feared "a humanitarian crisis" if banking ties were cut.

According to Washington, these banking channels are key to nearly $8 billion of imports from Israel to the West Bank, including electricity, water, fuel and food.