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While there is a broad range of Arabic language media outlets reporting stories from and about the Middle East, there is currently no affordable and reliable means for English speakers to gain access to this content. As a result, many English speaking businesspersons, students, journalists and others who have an interest in the affairs of the region are largely unaware of what the Middle East media is covering and how they are covering these stories.

Mideastwire.com aims to close this gap by offering a daily menu of translations covering some of the key political, cultural, economic and opinion pieces appearing in the media of the 22 Arab countries and the Arab Diaspora. Through this effort, we hope to address at least one aspect of a global disconnect that continues to threaten a wide spectrum of socio-political and economic relationships, both here in the region and beyond.

It is also important to note that, since our founding in 2005, Mideastwire.com is wholly funded by the content license fees paid by individuals and organizations. As such, there is no government, commercial or non-profit support, an aspect that we believe provides a relatively independent platform for better understanding.

Our Corrections Policy: We adhere to an honest and open corrections policy. Please email info@mideastwire.com if you notice any typo or if you disagree with our translation choices. Since we do not produce our own content, we only will consider corrections that highlight typos or dispute our translations, not the veracity or accuracy of the original content. Accepted corrections are applied directly to the relevant translations as soon as they are approved by the editor and our database is updated accordingly for all subscribers.

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

24-Apr-2024

Algeria

Politics

“Has the Maghreb Union turned into an Algerian Union?” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On April 24, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Tunisian writer Nizar Boulahia: “What happened exactly, and what is now being offered to the Maghreb populations? Is it to maintain the original version of their union while trying to improve and develop it? Or to place their hopes in another cloned version of it, which is partial and diminished? This is almost what is now happening. But no one is consulting them or asking for their advice or opinion. As usual, things are happening and being decided far away from them. What further confirms that is probably the way that the first meeting of what was viewed as the nucleus of a Maghreb bloc to replace the Maghreb Union ended, in the total absence of two important countries, i.e. Morocco and Mauritania… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“…Erdogan went back, and his forces stayed in Iraq” (Al-Mada, Iraq)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On April 24, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Tamim al-Hassan: “Ankara maintains triple the number of US troops in Iraq without the approval of the government in Baghdad. Despite that, the factions that appear to be on the brink of ending the “truce” with the United States did not comment on the latest visit of the Turkish president or the status of his forces. Not only that, the Coordination Framework which is supposedly the political umbrella of most of the factions also abstained from commenting, while no political side issued any statement or even asked: What will be the fate of the Turkish forces following the new agreement with Ankara? Indeed, during the one-day visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq, Baghdad, and Ankara signed more than 20 agreements and MOUs… (Read More)

“Erdogan’s picture with leaders of Sunni parties detonates controversy in Iraq” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics - Religion

On April 23, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Fadel an-Nishmi: “The meeting held by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the leaders and members of the Sunni political blocs during his last visit to Baghdad generated wide controversy between those who supported it, viewing it as an extension of similar Shi’i meetings held with Iranian leaders, and those who opposed it, believing it revealed the extent of the regional influence on the Iraqi political balances during the last two decades… So, on the sidelines of his last visit to Baghdad, Erdogan appeared in a picture carried by partisan media while receiving the leaders of Sunni powers in a session that generated discussions and controversy surrounding a potential Turkish role in the Sunni disputes over the Parliament speaker’s position… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“The intersection of internal and external concerns stirs the issue of the displaced, but...” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Human Rights - Refugees

On April 24, Imad Marmal wrote the following report in the privately-owned Al-Joumhouria daily newspaper: “…Although the challenges of the war on the front of the South are a top priority when it comes to the internal concerns during this phase, the issue of the Syrian displacement has once again invaded the front lines of the Lebanese agenda and is competing for the top position under the burden of the escalating existential threat resulting from this crisis and the expanding side-issues that nearly caused sedition when a Syrian gang killed the Lebanese Forces official, Pascal Sleiman… (Read More)

“Geagea to his allies: I am the leader of the Opposition” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 24, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Head of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, doesn’t want the incident of the slaying of Pascal Sleiman to go by without achieving some kind of gains… In the past two days, an invitation suddenly “fell” on the Opposition forces to attend an expanded political meeting on Saturday knowing that Me’rab is busy preparing for this meeting amidst thick secrecy. Naturally, the slaying of Sleiman constituted the best objective for the invitation that read: “After the escalation of the series of killings and assassinations, the violation of the borders, the continued dismantling of the state, the spread of illegal weapons, and the plunging of Lebanon into the furnace of regional wars, we call for a national solidarity meeting under the title of [resolution] 1701 in defense of Lebanon… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“Iran and Israel: Heading to a long attrition war in the region” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On April 24, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Qassem Qassir: “…The whole world was busy last week evaluating Iran’s retaliation to Israel, its outcomes, and future reflections on the situation in the region especially the war on Gaza and the potential choices that the different parties, including the opposition forces as well as the Zionist Entity, might revert to. Several research centers close to Tehran and the opposition forces conducted a full review of all the reactions and published articles and research around Iran’s response and its different repercussions with the aim of evaluating the upcoming phase and learning the directions of the conflict in the region. Several meetings were also held in Tehran and Beirut between Iranian, Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic officials… (Read More)

Politics

“…Gulf moves to push the specter of war away from the region” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - Peace Process

On April 20, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Gulf States are working on preventing a widespread regional conflict, especially after the recent Iranian strikes on Israel and Tel Aviv’s response by bombing a military base in Isfahan. The Gulf States fear that the new escalation will expose them to direct threat. For this reason, they have been working on bringing an end to the ongoing security tension for a long while now, so that they may focus better on their internal projects. The Gulf States rely on active diplomacy as a means to resolve conflicts and avoid wars and they seek to enhance communication and dialogue between the concerned countries with the aim of peacefully resolving the differences… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Israel in the West Bank: Details of the silent displacement war” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On April 24, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Amin Kamourieh: “…The resistance against occupation was present in the West Bank before October 7 and it escalated after that despite the intense Israeli assault. Although the chance of survival for the Resistance fighters was nil because of the intense surveillance and suffocating siege, the camps of Balata, Nour Shams, and Jenin, were never calm. Instead, new forms of resistance were produced as well as a new course of resistance action… (Read More)

“Qatar, Turkey throwing Hamas around…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On April 24, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “In two simultaneous positions, Turkey and Qatar said that the Hamas Movement shall remain in Doha as long as the truce talks with Israel persist. This comes after days of debate and leaks about Qatar abandoning the Movement and looking for another host country in light of the Israeli and American pressures accusing Doha of not pressuring Hamas to release the Israeli detainees… (Read More)

Qatar

Politics

“Qatar frustrated by non-seriousness of mediation sides to end war in Gaza…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - Peace Process - USA Europe

On April 23, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Doha by its correspondent Suleiman Haj Ibrahim: “Qatar confirmed its frustration toward the outcome of the mediation it is leading to end the Israeli war on Gaza…, confirming that the mediation teams of both sides were not currently present in Doha, and denying the claims surrounding the ousting of Hamas’s leaders. This came in the weekly briefing session of the Foreign Ministry, in which Official Spokesman of the Qatari Foreign Ministry Majed al-Ansari commented on the developments seen on the Palestinian stage, and Qatar’s position after Doha announced via Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman ath-Thani that Qatar was reassessing its position toward the mediation efforts it was undertaking… (Read More)

Sudan

Politics

“Sudanese crisis: Multiple reasons behind obstruction of Jeddah track” [Part 2-2] (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Peace Process

On April 23, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: “Regarding the course of the negotiations surrounding the crisis, former Sudanese Ambassador to Washington Khidir Haroun Ahmed told Al-Araby al-Jadeed: “It seems that the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support militias are solely relying on a military settlement on the field. Beyond that, all the actions are being used by both sides to achieve that settlement, by giving the impression they want appeasement… In the meantime, they are using the negotiation sessions as an opportunity for the fighters to catch their breath, and in the militias’ case, to bring in military equipment and mercenaries.” The Sudanese diplomat continued: “Al-Burhan’s visits to Riyadh and Cairo are allowing him to clarify the facts on the ground to both countries and show how the citizens were harmed by the militias (the Rapid Support Forces)… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“What is the meaning of resumption of attacks on US bases in Syria?” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On April 24, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report by its correspondent Yaman Nehme: “After the attacks on the American bases in Iraq and Syria had stopped at the beginning of February, the Omar Field base east of Deir Ezzor and the Kharab al-Jir base northeast of Al-Hasakah were targeted with missiles by Iranian-backed militias, which points to Tehran’s ongoing attempts to intensify the pressure on the US troops in the region to get them to pull out… Regarding the reasons that prompted the resumption of the attacks on the US bases in Syria, Associate Researcher at the Arab Forum for Analyzing Iranian Policies (AFAIP) Mustafa an-Nuaimi believed that Iran had decided to increase its attacks on the United States and the countries allied with it in the region… (Read More)

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