Mideastwire.com

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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

20-Jan-2025

Egypt

Politics

“What could the Syria and Gaza victories change on the Egyptian stage?” (Website, Middle East)

Monarchies/Dictatorships

On January 19, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report from Cairo: “On December 8, the Syrian opposition managed to topple the authority of Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia… And 470 days into the Israeli bloody genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian resistance was able to impose a truce on the occupation entity via international mediation… This was viewed by observers as a submission by Tel Aviv, a victory for the resistance, and a defeat for the Arab normalization axis… Egyptian politicians, oppositionists, and activists spoke to Arabi 21 about what the victories in Syria and Gaza could change on the Egyptian stage, and about the potential emulation of what was achieved by the opposition in Syria by Egyptian activists and oppositionists, with what ensued in terms of the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt’s acceptance of the fait accompli… (Read More)

Iran

Politics

“Iran and Trump’s return: In preparation for extreme pressures strategy” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On January 20, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Tehran by its correspondent Saber Gul Anbari: “The return of American President-elect Donald Trump to the White House might constitute a key turning point for Iran, seeing as how he adopted an “extreme pressure” strategy against it during his first term (2017-2021), whose echoes are still being reflected by the crises burdening Iran, especially on the economic level, and at the level of its external policies and regional role… Iranian expert Salaheddin Harsani told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the Iranian elite was divided in its approach toward the second version of Trump’s policies toward Iran, indicating there were two opinions, the first saying that Trump was a businessman and likely to seek a settlement and a deal… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Encounter between Sheik Mohammad Bin Zayed with Masrour Barzani an expression of an active action regarding region’s developments and their repercussions” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On January 20, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “Om Sunday, Sheik Mohammad Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the president of the UAE, discussed with Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan territory, the relations between the UAE and Iraq in general, and the territory in specific… Barzani’s visit to Abu Dhabi falls in the context of the region's extensive political and diplomatic political action due to the rapid developments and stormy fluctuations including the major transformation in Syria… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“…What’s going on between the Party and the Movement?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On January 20, the privately-owned Nidaa al-Watan newspaper carried the following report by Nakhleh Odeimy: “The Amal-Hezbollah duo are trying to imply that agreement is the headline of the present phase between the two of them. The Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayed Naim Qassem, translated the above when he said that “the selection of the new president was the result of the agreement between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.” The truth is that things are far from there, especially after having lost the card of the presidency in front of the new equations, and the loud loss of the plan to control the premiership as used to be the case in earlier phases. Sources that are well-informed about the relationship of the “duo” revealed there’s a growing trust crisis within the Rejectionist Axis over the management of the political file and the negotiations… (Read More)

“Bin Farhan in Beirut on Thursday: A new path and expected agreements” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On January 18, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report: “Al-Modon learned that the Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal Bin Farhan will visit Lebanon next Thursday on a twenty-four-hour visit to meet with the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and hand him an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia. Bin Farhan will also be meeting with both the Parliament Speaker, Nabih Birri, and the designated Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam. An expanded meeting is to be convened later in the Saudi embassy… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

"Will the Societal Support Committee operate without Abbas' approval...?" (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On January 19, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following report: “Well-informed Palestinian political sources noted that the Egyptian scenario to re-open the Rafah crossing and introduce aid and humanitarian relief to the Gaza Territory through the so-called Societal Support Committee has started to entice many international parties when it comes to dealing with the post-ceasefire phase. This means that the Egyptian proposal, which was officially approved by the Hamas Movement as well as the majority of the Resistance factions, has started to turn into a practical mechanism that might partially manage the mission of running the Rafah crossing for now in cooperation with the Egyptian authorities… (Read More)

“These are the objectives that Israel failed to achieve in its war on Gaza” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - Refugees - USA Europe

On January 19, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: “After 470 days of war on Gaza, the mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States penned the end to this tragedy without realizing the objectives of the Israeli government. On October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian Hamas Movement launched the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu set several objectives including eliminating the Hamas Movement, bringing back the hostages using force, and imposing security control on Gaza… (Read More)

“Mohammad Nazzal to Anadolu: Israel will pull out from Gaza indefinitely but gradually” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On January 19, the Arabic page of the official Turkish Anadolu News Agency carried the following report from Istanbul by its correspondent Mohamed Majed: “Hamas Politburo member Mohammad Nazzal said on Sunday that the ceasefire with Israel featured a gradual withdrawal by the Israeli army from the Strip. He added to Anadolu: “The Hamas Movement does not want to rule the Strip. Instead, it was suggested to form a civil administration for the Strip, composed of independent figures and competencies that can manage the Strip’s service, health, and civil sectors… This was agreed upon in the Community Support Committee’s paper that was reached in Cairo and was approved by Hamas, but was rejected by the Fatah Movement… The Palestinian resistance factions are in agreement over the fact that the Community Support Committee paper will be the reference in managing Gaza”… (Read More)

“Qadura Fares: Release of Barghouti, Saadat, Hamed, will be negotiated in second phase” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Judicial Affairs - Military and Security

On January 19, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Doha by its correspondent Anwar al-Khatib: “Head of the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee Qadura Fares revealed today on Sunday that Israel refused to release the symbols of the Palestinian liberation movement, i.e. Marwan al-Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, Ibrahim Hamed, Abdullah al-Barghouti, and others, during the first stage of the negotiations, saying that their release was the last topic discussed during the first stage. He added to Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the release of the movement's leaders will be the first topic of discussion during the second stage of the negotiations that will begin on the sixteenth day of the implementation of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“ISIL part of the Syrian equation…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - Terrorism

On January 20, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following piece by Hisham al-Najjar: “Many contributing factors have come together to help the ISIL organization achieve a powerful comeback into the Syrian scene and from there, to the region in general and the world. For this reason, Damascus’ visitors including the Europeans and the Americans are trying to assess the capacity of the rising Jihadists…to restrain the other competitors whom everybody fears except for Turkey which views them as a lesser evil compared to the Kurds… (Read More)

“Arrangements to integrate dissident officers into Syrian army do not dissipate concerns” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security

On January 20, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Gaziantep by its correspondent Muhammad Amin: “The Defense Ministry in the Syrian caretaker government is proceeding with its efforts to form the Syrian National Army, which includes factions and formations that fought the regime’s forces for years… And on Saturday, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with a committee representing the dissident officers to discuss their integration into the new Syrian army… The committee included 8 of those officers, namely General Abdullah al-Asaad and General Riad al-Asaad, the founder of the Free Syrian Army. Speaking to Al-Araby al-Jadeed, Riad al-Asaad indicated: “We could say we are in a preparatory stage for building the organizational structure of the army on sound bases… (Read More)

“SDF denies Military Operations’ mobilization toward areas it controls” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On January 19, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Damascus by its correspondent Kamal Shikho: “A prominent Kurdish source denied the news surrounding the mobilization of the Syrian Military Operations Command toward the SDF-controlled areas northeast of the country. In a phone call with Asharq al-Awsat, the director of the SDF Media Center said: “The Turkish army and armed factions loyal to it bombed the area around the Tishrin Dam with heavy artillery on Monday morning… Then the ground attack was launched on At-Talla, which our fighters deterred, causing the fall of dead and wounded, and the escape of the remaining forces… The SDF also clashed with groups from the Syrian National Army in the city of Dayr Hafir, in the Tishrin Dam, and Skawiya, thus destroying arms depots and deterring their advancement… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

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