Following the report published by “Globes”, First International Bank, in which the maker of the check has an account, is also demanding clarifications from Barclays Bank.
Moshe Langerman, the economic attache in Israel’s embassy in London, is looking into Barclays Bank’s refusal to honor an Israeli check due to the political situation in Israel, “Globes” has learnt.
Last week, “Globes” reported that Barclays Bank’s Liverpool branch refused to honor a check made by an Israeli company with an account in First International in Tel Aviv, on the grounds that, “in view of the political ferment in Israel we are unable to accept such checks at the present time”. The Israeli company sent the check to a British supplier, who has been getting such checks every month for the past ten years. Up to now all the checks have been honored.
First International’s spokeswoman said that the bank asked Barclays Bank to inquire into the incident, but has not yet received an answer.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman and economic attache Langerman confirmed that Israel’s embassy in London is looking into the incident. Langerman added that the inquiry is still in its preliminary stages and that no answers have been received yet from Barclays Bank.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 19 December, 2000