Mideastwire.com

WHAT WE DO

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

16-May-2016

Egypt

Opinion

“Your clothes are catching fire, O Sisi” (Al-Mesryoon, Egypt)

On May 14, the independent Al-Mesryoon newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Chief Editor Gamal Sultan: “I am astonished by President Abdul-Fattah es-Sisi’s disregarding of the consecutive fires currently sweeping Egypt, as though these fires, which are being tackled by the public and commented on by the various international media outlets, were taking place in another country, at a time when the president is busy meeting with Western figures, who could have been received by any ordinary minister, not even the prime minister, let alone the president of the republic. This could be said for example regarding his meeting today with the secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union, who should have met with the telecommunication minister at best. Almost 40 critical or large fires have consecutively erupted throughout Egypt within one week, around half of which in Cairo… (Read More)

Iran

Politics

“...Losses of Iranian Revolutionary [Guard] in Syria affect Hezbollah” (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)

On May 16, the pro-monarchy Okaz daily carried the following report from Amman: “Iranian opposition sources expected the earthquake that has struck the Revolutionary Guard and its military arm, the Quds Force, as well as the losses it has suffered in Syria, to have deep repercussions on the Guard’s Lebanese wing represented by the Hezbollah militia, which is witnessing internal liquidations. They continued that the party’s blaming of the Syrian opposition was an attempt to distance the ghost of the collapse of its military command, which has launched internal assassinations on the Syrian arena. The sources assured that all the Iranian plans that were devised to keep Al-Assad’s regime in power had failed, as revealed by the first visit conducted by Commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani to Moscow, where he met with the Russian president and requested air support for his troops in Syria… (Read More)

Lebanon

Business

“Hezbollah cannot threaten Central Bank and other banks...” (An-Nahar, Lebanon)

Financial Markets - Terrorism

On May 16, the pro-March 14 privately-owned An-Nahar newspaper carried the following report by Sabine Awaiss: “This may be the first time that the positions inside Hezbollah diverge over an issue that directly concerns and affects the party’s fate. The issue in question is that of the US sanctions act, which entered in force on April 15, and whose implementation the party discovered was more than serious, even discretionary, as it affected figures close to the party, though not involved in or concerned by its financial transactions. And this divergence was clear, considering that while the party’s ministers in the government, Hussein Hajj Hassan and Muhammad Fneish, were discussing the issue during the last Cabinet session... and calling for a calm and wise handling of the situation, the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc was fiercely threatening the banks, the Central Bank, and even the government, against succumbing to the American decision… (Read More)

Opinion

“Shaking and confusion within Hezbollah following Badreddine’s death” (Al-Mustaqbal, Lebanon)

Military and Security

On May 16, the pro-Future movement Al-Mustaqbal daily carried the following piece by Wissam Saadeh: “Hezbollah simply still doesn’t know the truth about what happened near the International Damascus Airport. At the same time, the Party is the only source for the news concerning the assassination of its explosive operations’ engineer and the man accused by the International Tribunal for Lebanon of bombing the convoy of Martyr PM Rafik al-Hariri and the horrific massacre caused by that bombing… The official authorities in Lebanon and Syria remained silent although days went by since the airing of this piece of news. The Israelis did not give this piece of news much attention compared to their reaction to [the assassination of] someone who ranks low within the Party’s security pyramid: Samir al-Kontar… (Read More)

“Questions concerning the assassination circumstances of Hezbollah commander, Moustafa Badreddine…” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On May 14, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following editorial: “Hezbollah has always been used to directly accuse Israel whenever any of its commanders and cadres are assassinated. Following the assassination of the commander, Imad Moghniyeh, in Damascus 2008, the Party did not wait and accused Israel knowing that the latter has still not announced its official responsibility for the assassination. The same goes for Samir al-Kontar’s assassination since all the circumstances were uncovered only hours following the operation… (Read More)

Politics

“The conflict over the municipalities has killed whatever was left between the Future and the Lebanese Forces!!” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On May 16, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report by Sonia Rizk: “The political choices that were made concerning the presidential issue between the Future and the Lebanese Forces greatly served to promote the differences although some parties tried to fix things. However, these efforts did not serve to open a positive gap that could serve the end the political differences between the two parties, which went all the way to MP Sa’d al-Hariri and Dr. Samir Geagea supporting two different figures from the March 8 team running for president, which clashes with the decades-long March 14 slogans. The presidential issue thus wiped these slogans out. Thus, the March 14 team lost the revolution’s principle and its sovereign way as the two poles opted for two conflicting choices that greatly affected the main cause… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“…Hamas angered by Egyptian measures…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On May 14, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily carried the following report: “The leaders of the Hamas movement are going through a feeling of discontent over the messages coming from the Egyptian capital, Cairo, especially since the Rafah passageway has been opened two days ago to the travelers in a mad way since the previous demands of the [Hamas] movement were not met despite the many positive signs that the movement had made. Rai al-Youm learned that this has pushed Hamas to further interact with the Turkish suggestion to establish a port in Gaza, one that will replace the port that Egypt is shutting… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“A Gulf reading into the region’s fires: Restoring Al-Assad from Iran” - Part one (As-Safir, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy

On May 16, the independent, leftist As-Safir daily carried the following report by Sami Kleib: “President Bashar al-Assad was never our enemy. However, he threw himself in Ian’s lap. This was our problem with him even before the war. Many of our Gulf States have no problem with him staying provided that he moves away from Iran and that he induces changes at the level of the Authority to include the opposition.” This is what a Gulf official said, five years following the devastating war on Syria. Iran is the number one problem for the Gulf. However, as Saudi Arabia is leading a campaign to confront Iran on the Gulf, Arab and Islamic levels, this is also raising some question marks and signs of concern among its Gulf neighbors concerning its internal and external situation. In addition, the cloudiness of the U.S. elections, and Washington’s unwillingness to end the Syrian struggle are signs that serve to further increase the pessimistic nature of the Gulf analysis regarding the region… (Read More)

“Military commander in Darayya: Assad used war to deprive city of aid...” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On May 16, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Rif Dimashq Salami Muhammad: “Yesterday, the Syrian opposition in the city of Darayya in the Western Ghouta of Damascus managed to deter a massive land attack by the regime forces on the city, using minesweepers and sophisticated tanks. As a result, the opposition announced the killing of around 15 assailants and the destruction of a T-72 tank in the southwestern part of the city. Commander of the Islam Martyrs Brigade in Darayya Captain Abu Jamal said: “The Syrian regime forces’ attack on Darayya yesterday was not an accidental breach of the international truce instated in Syria. Al-Assad prepared for the attack on the city in advance, and it was not a reaction to our breaching of the truce, since the discontinuation of the hostilities was widely successful in Darayya, as opposed to the remaining regions across Syria… (Read More)

Tunisia

Politics

“Leader in Nidaa Tounes to Quds Press: Party controlled by Essebsi’s family...” (Quds Press Agency, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On May 13, the independent Palestinian Quds Press news service carried the following report: “Former leader in Nidaa Tounes [The Call of Tunisia] Lazhar Akremi said that the party was currently “controlled by Essebsi’s family, without any legal or political justification,” adding in exclusive statements to Quds Press that “Ridha Belhaj’s resignation from the chairmanship of the Call of Tunisia’s political committee was the natural result of the party’s monopolization by Essebsi’s family.” He continued: “Ridha Belhaj’s resignation was expected, and we had previously cautioned him. But he has now become certain of the inclination to surrender the party to the president’s son, Hafedh Essebsi, knowing that Ridha Belhaj actually contributed to this plan.” Akremi assured at this level: “The Call of Tunisia Party is now controlled by the family, and its institutions and men have been neutralized… (Read More)

“Ghannouchi: The moment of separation from the Muslim Brotherhood has come...” (Al-Hayat al-Jadidah, Palestine)

Democracy and Party Politics - Religion - Terrorism

On May 15, the pro-PA Al-Hayat al-Jadidah newspaper exclusively acquired the following message, which was addressed by leader of the Tunisian Ennahda Movement Rached al-Ghannouchi to the special meeting of the International Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood that was held in Istanbul in April: “There are no medical reasons or others that prevented me from attending. But day after day, I am seeing the moment of separation between us growing nearer. I am a Tunisian Muslim, and Tunisia is my country. And I believe that patriotism is important, essential and critical, and can never allow anyone to strip me of my Tunisian identity. I can never allow an attack on Tunisia, even by those carrying the same message. I am now proclaiming before you that my Tunisian identity is the greatest and most important element, and that I do not want Tunisia to turn into the nearby Libya or the distant Iraq… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“Al-Qa’idah leaves Al-Makla from the door; ISIL enters from the window…” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - Terrorism

On May 15, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily carried the following report: “The celebrations of the Saudi led Arab alliance for the ousting of Al-Qa’idah forces from the city of Al-Makla, Hadhramaut’s capital, only lasted for three weeks knowing that the “liberation” operation saw the participation of special Saudi and Emirati forces in addition to the forces of the exiled [Yemeni] government in Al-Riyadh. The forces of Al-Qa’idah pulled out through the city’s door but the forces of the Islamic State returned through the window. This led to the reshuffling of the cards. Indeed, as these Special Forces were fighting Al-Qa’idah they are now fighting its more dangerous colleague: the Islamic State… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

Address any queries to:

info@mideastwire.com