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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.

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TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

27-Nov-2015

Algeria

Politics

"Members of parliament ask the executive to resign..." (El-Watan, Algeria)

Democracy and Party Politics

On November 24, the daily El-Watan reported: "Deputies of the FFS, the MSP and independents called upon the government "to resign," since it has proved its latent failure not only on the political level but especially on the economic one. Speaking during the debates on the draft 2016 finance law, Mustapha Bettatache, of the FFS, invited the executive to stop lying to the Algerian people and to "step down. For 50 years, the authorities have not been able to diversify the economy and now they want to reverse the situation in a few months. The government should admit to and confess its failure," said the MP who thinks that the crisis referred to by the government is not due to the falling oil prices only. "The problem is much deeper, our economy is in crisis. Since 1962, we have been speaking about an economic crisis, but what has the state done to remedy this situation? Nothing," said the FFS MP who regrets that the only loser, given the new provisions of the 2016 finance law, is the citizen… (Read More)

"Algeria intensifies security measures... travel to Tunisia hasn't stopped" (Website, Middle East)

Terrorism - Unrest

On November 25, the daily Echourouk el-Youmi reported: "Algeria yesterday consolidated its security measures along the 1,000-km eastern border strip particularly in the mountainous regions adjacent to Tebessa, Souk Ahras and El Taref Provinces where the strongholds of the terrorist groups which are active in Tunisia are concentrated. The move followed the operation which targeted a bus of the presidential guards on the day before yesterday in which 12 Tunisian security personnel were killed according to the most recent official account. The security reinforcements which were described by a source of Echourouk as "normal and have been in force for a while to avoid any movement of terrorists between the two countries", included monitoring operations, foot and mobile patrols, air reconnaissance flights in the Algerian airspace and also along the Tunisian-Libyan border because Libya is considered to be the source of all the terrorist operations which target Tunisia and Algeria… (Read More)

Egypt

Politics

"Pope Tawadros visits occupied Jerusalem amid controversy..." (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Religion

On November 27, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondents in Cairo and occupied Jerusalem: "Upon his arrival to occupied Jerusalem yesterday, Pope Tawadros II, the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, tried to contain the controversy provoked by his rare visit to the city, saying he came to "participate in the funerary prayer of Bishop of Jerusalem Anba Abraham, not to visit." He added there were special and personal reasons behind his attendance of Anba Abraham's funerals, saying: "When I joined the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in 1968, the late Anba Abraham was the first to receive me and was the first priest with whom I dealt. We worked together in welcoming the Monastery's visitors and I was highly affected by his fun spirit when he received the guests and told them about the Monastery… (Read More)

Iran

Opinion

"Beyond the Summit!" - Shari'atmadari on Putin-Khamene'i meeting (Keyhan, Iran)

On November 24, an editorial by Hoseyn Shari'atmadari in the reformist Keyhan said: "Yesterday, the Russian President Vladimir Putin who had come to Tehran in order to take part in the summit meeting of gas exporting countries, in an unprecedented and meaningful gesture, immediately after arriving in Tehran went to visit the esteemed leader of the revolution. This move by Putin, which has been unprecedented in Iran and for which one can hardly find any parallels in the world, took place despite the fact that according to diplomatic protocols and defined principles the leaders of different countries attach a great deal of importance to the welcoming ceremonies by the host country. They carefully assess and evaluate the forms of the welcoming ceremonies, and make sure that they are in keeping with their status. If the welcoming ceremonies arranged for them are not in keeping with what they expect and if they regard the kind of welcome or some aspects of it to be below their dignity they refrain from going on that trip… (Read More)

Politics

"Strategic document of Iran-Russia relations is being drafted" (E'temad, Iran)

Energy - United Nations - USA Europe

On November 23, the reformist E'temad reported: "Iran and Russia, two neighbours or two strategic partners? Over the past four decades, and after Iran's Islamic Revolution, the answer to this question has sometimes optimistically weighed in favour of strategic partnership, and often pessimistically towards the Iranians choosing sides but expediency for the Russians. Conditions in the region and in Iran, which for the first time in the past decade have come out of the shadow of nuclear accusations, have opened a new vista for Iran/Russia ties. The Islamic Republic of Iran's ambassador to Russia, Mehdi Sana'i, is extremely hopeful of the economic and political prospects of this vista. The interview with Mehdi Sana'i took place during the days leading up to Vladimir Putin's presence in Iran after eight years. Sana'i, who exercises diplomatic caution in choosing his words, spoke more of the economic and business opportunities ahead of the two countries in the post-Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) era a! nd the bilateral ties that are becoming permanent. Iran's number one man in our embassy in Moscow believes that the Russians' outlook towards Iran is strategic rather than tactical, and Iran's upper hand in the regional equations, together with its victory in the nuclear negotiations, have made Russia more aware of Iran's power. The interview is as follows… (Read More)

"Let us Not Use Technical Nuclear Discussions as Means for Political Games" (E'temad, Iran)

Democracy and Party Politics - Energy - United Nations - USA Europe

On November 12, the reformist E'temad reported: "On the sidelines of the Media Fair, Ahmad Ba'idinezhad, political and international affairs director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited E'temad's stand, and in response to a question concerning the past and present situation of Iran's nuclear activities case, known as PMD (possible military dimensions) by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and if there is any hope that this case will be completely closed by mid December, he replied: "Fortunately, there has been very good collaboration with the IAEA with regard to PMD so far and we have witnessed many useful developments in this respect. We are unquestionably hopeful that the issue of Iran's past and present nuclear activities known as PMD will be resolved by 15 December. We are also hoping that the report that is due to be submitted by IAEA Director Mr Yukiya Amano in this respect will be prepared and submitted to the Board of Directors earlier than 15 December. The process that has been c! ompleted so far is in line with the contingencies considered by the IAEA and I have to say that the resolution of the PMD case has had direct impact on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This issue had cast a shadow on the debates regarding the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities, and spying agencies together with several IAEA members tried to imbue Iran's nuclear programme with a military air… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“France is acting as if the Saudi endowment to the army has evaporated” (As-Safir, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - USA Europe

On November 27, the independent, leftist As-Safir daily newspaper carried the following report: “Coincidentally, both a French and a Lebanese clarifications concerning the three billion dollars Saudi endowment to arm the Lebanese army through the French, happened to be given on the same day. As the commander of the Lebanese army, Gen. Jean Kahwaji, was expressing his despair in Yarze over the possibility that this endowment might never be realized, a French official following up on this file was expressing his pessimism to As-Safir now that the deal has, once again, entered the long waiting tunnel knowing that a space for hope still exists to see the endowment released following a Saudi royal decision… (Read More)

“Campaign against Al-Hariri in Tripoli…” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On November 27, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report: “How did the people of Tripoli receive the news of [former] PM Sa’d al-Hariri’s nomination of Minister Suleiman Franjieh for the post of president? The news concerning the meeting between Al-Hariri and Framjieh did not go by un-noticed by the people of Tripoli in general and the supporters of the blue movement in particular. A state of alert was rather seen among all the political, civil, and religious forces and leaderships… The reactions varied between supporting or condemning [this nomination] according to each party’s political and religious position and also based on the connections between these forces and the external agendas including the regional and international agendas… (Read More)

Suleiman Franjieh president within fifteen days (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On November 27, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report: “[Former] PM Sa’d al-Hariri will be holding a press conference within days at any given moment or possibly by early next week in order to announce his nomination of Minister Suleiman Franjieh for president. And after the Future movement announces its nomination of Franjieh, Minister Walid Jumblatt will also announce his support for electing Sulieman Franjieh. Then, the bloc of Speaker Nabih Birri will announce his support for the nomination of Minister Suleiman Franjieh. The March 8 forces will issue statements supporting the nomination of Franjieh expect for Hezbollah, which will not be issuing a statement to support Franjieh’s nomination in light of the sensitive and delicate relationship between Hezbollah and Gen. Michel Aoun… (Read More)

“Franjieh’s nomination:Waiting for a public stand from Al-Hariri, Al-Riyadh (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics

On November 27, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “…Al-Akhbar learned that a prominent March 8 figure has called on [former] PM Sa’d al-Hariri to issue a public stand where he officially announced the nomination of MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post of president and whether this position of his reflects the stand of the Future movement exclusively of the entire March 14 team. The same figure asked Al-Hariri to clearly state Al-Riyadh’s and Washington’s positions regarding this same issue… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

"Russian, Iranian and Turkish areas of influence: Where do we stand?" (Az-Zaman, Iraq)

Military and Security

On November 26, the independent Az-Zaman newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Chief Editor Fateh Abdul Salam: "Ever since Washington unleashed its hands in Iraq, Iran has been dealing with it as an area of influence and a vital space for the preservation of its security. Some Iranian leaders tried to legitimize this situation within a legal framework, by saying that a 40-kilometer deep zone was what Iran needed to confront any possible threat, and we saw how the militias cleansed a border strip deeper than 40 kilometers, and expelled the inhabitants of the villages in it under claims of fighting terrorism. But Iran will not settle for that modest depth, is practically fighting in Syria, and is expanding its influence to South Lebanon, which is the stronghold of its striking arm represented by Hezbollah… (Read More)

"The end of a stupid regime" (As-Safir, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On November 26, Mounir al-Khatib wrote the following piece in the independent, leftist As-Safir daily newspaper: “The constructive or destructive mystery is just like a Teflon pan: the perpetrators cannot stick to it… Now that almost five years have elapsed since the launching of the “brotherly” war against Syria, the cost of this war remains unknown till this day. Figures are thrown without any proofs or thoroughness. However, the financers and instigators are well known. These are capable of proceeding with the operations of weapons and equipment purchases in addition to accompanying the assault through the “public opinion” and the infrastructure all with the aim of extending the battles… (Read More)

“So this is not about ISIL” (An-Nahar, Lebanon)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On November 26, Jihad al-Zein wrote the following piece in the An-Nahar daily newspaper: “One of the benefits of the incident whereby Turkey downed the Russian military jet consists of exposing the issue of the conflict in the region. The reigning propaganda indicates that ISIL is the main issue. However, thanks to the Turkish-Russian “problem,” it turned out that this is rather about the balance between two axes: the American and the Russian axes… (Read More)

Russia

Opinion

"Will the angry Russia redo its calculations?" (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On November 27, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: "Consecutive and angry Russian statements emerged after Turkey's downing of the Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet, starting with the Russian president who threatened Ankara with serious consequences and accused it of having "stabbed Russia in the back." President Putin's fast and agitated reaction revealed deep disgruntlement, because the downing of the jet confirmed a reality with which Moscow has to deal, i.e. its failure to contain the Turks, as something it had been working on through repeated violations in the hope of imposing it as a fait accompli... Indeed, Kremlin's goal was to make the Turkish government and army think twice before confronting Russia, in light of the following: Absolute control over the Syrian airspace, significant military superiority, and the massive size of economic exchange… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Politics

"15 terrorists involved in explosions and assassinations in 3 states" (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On November 27, the pro-monarchy Okaz newspaper carried the following report by its correspondent in Riyadh Mansour ash-Shahri: "The 15 names announced by the Interior Ministry in connection to the activities of the terrorist Hezbollah, were involved in many crimes and terrorist plots in Egypt, Kuwait and Lebanon, and carried out terrorist acts ranging between espionage, kidnapping, assassinations and explosions. Indeed, Ali Musa Daqduq al-Mussawi, a.k.a. Ali Musa Daqduq, was involved in the killing of American soldiers in Karbala in southern Baghdad in January 2007, and the US troops surrendered him to the Iraqi authorities prior to their withdrawal from Iraq. However, during Nouri al-Maliki's term, Iraq released him and repatriated him to Beirut. There is also Muhammad Kawtharani, a.k.a. Muhammad al-Kawtharani and Jaafar al-Kawtharani, who carries the Lebanese and Iraqi nationalities… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

”American troops in Syria: Bracing for Al-Reqqa battle?” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On November 27, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “A new given has been added to the Syrian events: Around fifty American officers and troops have entered the Syrian lands through the channel of supporting the Kurdish “People’s Protection Units,” the main arm of the “Syrian Democratic Forces… (Read More)

"Moscow installs sophisticated electronic scanning devices in Latakia..." (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On November 27, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Damascus Kamel Sakr: "Reliable field sources revealed that Moscow is about to install sophisticated electronic scanning devices, to perform accurate monitoring and surveillance work by day and night along a number of hills on the northern Rif Latakia front. The sources continued to Al-Quds al-Arabi that these devices could conduct accurate 360-degree scanning over a distance of 30 kilometers, and that the main reason behind their installation on the dominating hills was to detect any attempt by extremist fighters to carry out a counterattack on the hills controlled by the Syrian army. Therefore, these devices will contribute to the enhancement of the troops on the ground, and significantly diminish the possibility of losing the positions controlled by the Syrian forces… (Read More)

Tunisia

Politics

"... Was the suicide bomber's goal to enter Carthage?" (As-Sabah, Morocco)

Terrorism

On November 26, the Tunisian As-Sabah newspaper carried the following report by its correspondent Saber al-Mukashar: "... The terrorist whom ISIL said went by the name Abu Abdullah at-Tunisi [who staged an attack on a bus carrying Presidential Guard elements in Tunis two days ago], infiltrated or entered Tunisia with a fake passport, after receiving military training in ISIL's camps in Libya, at the hands of dangerous Tunisian terrorist Ayman az-Zawali (23 years old). It is said that the latter replaced terrorist Ahmad ar-Rweisi in training the Jihadis, is considered one of the most prominent elements involved in terrorism, and is wanted by the Tunisian security and judicial authorities against the backdrop of the 2013 Sousse and Monastir explosions. And this confirms the ongoing threat reaching Tunisia from Libya, which pushed the Tunisian authorities yesterday to close the border with Libya… (Read More)

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