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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

18-Apr-2016

Egypt

Opinion

“Is Egypt truly not for sale?” (El-Khabar, Algeria)

Arab Diplomacy

On April 17, the independent El-Khabar newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Saad Bouakba: “It is odd to see the Egyptians demonstrating against the Egyptian government for having sold the two islands to Saudi Arabia, or rather restored the two islands to Saudi Arabia in exchange for sums of money, after Israel had relinquished them to Egypt in the context of the Camp David Accord. What is funny is that actual sovereignty over the two islands originally belongs to Israel, not to Egypt or Saudi Arabia, because the Camp David Accord does not allow the latter two to use the islands for military purposes, which means they lack sovereignty, just like Sinai. Hence, the Egyptian government’s selling of the two islands to Saudi Arabia is like Egypt selling what it did not own to someone who could never own it!… (Read More)

Politics

“Egypt: A new phase for the popular movement” (As-Safir, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics

On April 18, the independent, leftist As-Safir daily newspaper carried the following report: “The “Earth Friday” protests seen in Egypt last Friday were neither the largest nor the most violent of protests. However, they represented a new phase in the movement of Egypt. Despite the general pressuring against the protests and the protest law issued in 2013…, Egypt saw many marches and protests in the past phase. The civil servant sector organized protests including thousands of people were they objected to the civil service law. The people of Al-Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood obtained to previous permit when they besieged the Cairo security directorate to object the killing of a driver by a policeman while doctors occupied one Cairo street to protest the security forces’ assault on one of their colleagues and thousands marched in the Abdul Menhem Riad Square to protest Mubarak’s release. Dozens of protests can also be listed that managed to infiltrate the protests law and the security grip… (Read More)

Iran

Opinion

"Three thousand tons of American arms reached Syrian terrorists" (Javan, Iran)

Military and Security - Peace Process - Terrorism - USA Europe

On April 9, the conservative Javan daily said: "While reports are being published about the consideration to deploy hundreds of additional US Special Forces troops to Syria, other news about the injecting of 3,000 tons of weapons, including 85 thermal anti-aircraft missiles, to Syrian terrorists, is also being released. This demonstrates, once again, that Washington, contrary to its announced policies about efforts to fight terrorism, is in the practice feeding this agent of devastation. While announcing that is considering the of 250 American commandos, an American defence official noted that the purpose of this action is to provide counsel to rebels and increase the speed of operations against Daesh. According to claims made by this source, Washington's objective in this move is to provide local troops with sufficient training to regain control of Ar Raqqah in Syria and Mosul in Iraq, and furthermore, eliminate ISIL's ability to use these regions as a location for launching external attacks. Increasing the level of US Special Forces is just one of the possibilities. If this plan is approved, the number of troops in Syria, which is currently 500, will increase, and it has been said that their mission is to provide advice and assistance for "moderate" Syrian militants against ISIL… (Read More)

"A slap in the Face of JCPOA" - on the next US administration (Siyasat-e Ruz, Iran)

Energy - United Nations - USA Europe

On April 10, an editorial in the conservative Siyasat-e Ruz said: "Will the nuclear deal between Iran and the US endure? Or will it be trampled by the White House heads and prove, once again, the unreliability of the United States to not only the Iranians, but also the world public opinion? Although the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement is bilateral, and binding for both sides, while the Islamic Republic of Iran has fulfilled its commitments according to the nuclear deal, the other party has fulfilled its commitments on paper but these are not operationalized. The administrative process of the nuclear deal is progressing slowly on the American side, and this slowness has prevented Iran from feeling the effects of the US and the West fulfilling their commitments. The nuclear deal has proponents and opponents both inside Iran and among P5+1 countries. In Iran, some are and have been proponents of the JCPOA, while others are its opponents or, better said, its critics. Proponents of the JCPOA believe that its implementation could both improve economic conditions and also the termination of a policy of Iranophobia in the region. Proponents of the JCPOA see the nuclear deal a unique opportunity for the country to the extent that they believe losing it would mean missing a golden opportunity. They believe maximum benefits should be taken from this opportunity to improve economic conditions… (Read More)

"A reply to the editorial written by the editorial board of Washington Post" (Siyasat-e Ruz, Iran)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On April 14, an editorial in the conservative Iranian daily Siyasat-e Ruz said: "The editorial board of the American newspaper Washington Post, a governmental newspaper, has written in their editorial the following: "Tehran's conduct in testing ballistic missiles with the capability of carrying nuclear warheads, in contradiction with the UNSC resolution, must not have caused a great surprise in the many observers who had predicted that a nuclear deal would not result in a decline in Tehran's animosity towards the West, or in its indifference towards international norms." According to a report by Mizan, it is not very interesting or surprising that the editorial board of the Washington Post has come to this conclusion, but responding to this editorial is very easy and clear. Similar to the way they have had an analysis and interpretation of their own, we can also analyse like this: America's conduct in not fulfilling its obligations arising from the nuclear deal with Iran must not have caused a great surprise in those many observers who had predicted that a nuclear deal would not result in a decline in America's and the West's animosity towards Iran, or in their indifference towards America's international norms."… (Read More)

"Russia in Syria" (Keyhan, Iran)

Military and Security - Peace Process - USA Europe

On April 11, an editorial by Sa'dollah Zarei in the conservative Keyhan daily said: "In recent days, the world's media and political circles have been discussing the future of the security and political process in Syria a great deal. These analyses focus mainly on the agreement between Russia and America on the future of Bashar al-Asad. Among the most important points that observers noted in their analyses and speculations was the withdrawal of Russia's military forces from Syria. However, there is a wide gap between what is said in all these analyses and what may probably happen. Allow me to ask some questions about Russia's behaviour and its impact and then assess the probable answer to each question… (Read More)

"Ahmadinezhad's era is over" (E'temad, Iran)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 9, an interview with Ali-Akbar Torkan, senior advisor to President Rouhani, by Maryam Vahidian in the reformist E'temad said: "Akbar Torkan was Rouhani's most useful associate in the '92 elections and he is one of his confidants. In addition to his membership in the Moderation and Development Party Central Committee, he has various other posts as well. He says, in analyzing Ahmadinezhad's recent behavior and his speeches and trips: "What is important is for Ahmadinezhad's thought to be present in the elections. The next important point is who represents this thought." He is not very optimistic about Ahmadinezhad (Ahmadinejad)'s qualification, but adds that they have no plan to prevent Ahmadinezhad from running in the elections. He has interesting things to say about the topics that Ahmadinezhad chooses for his speeches. He says that by talking about human perfection he cannot hide the record of the ninth and 10th administrations' performance. Ahmadinezhad must be held accountable for his performance and undertake the responsibility of the inheritance that he has left for Rouhani… (Read More)

“The Doha oil meeting and the Iranian obstacle” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Energy

On April 18, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “On April 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that the ministers of energy of Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan will attend the Doha talks, which were launched yesterday between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers. However, the Iranian approval soon turned into refusal, and the meeting was held without any Iranian representation. On the other hand, the Russian Interfax news agency had mentioned that Russia and Saudi Arabia had reached an agreement last Tuesday over the stabilization of oil output. However, before the oil producers’ meeting was held, Saudi Arabia said via its Defense Minister Mohammad bin Salman it will freeze the oil output in case such a decision is taken by the other producers, including Iran… (Read More)

Iraq

Opinion

“Had you known the meaning of reform, you would not have called for it” (Az-Zaman, Iraq)

Democracy and Party Politics - Governmental Reform

On April 17, the independent Az-Zaman newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Chief Editor Fateh Abdul Salam: “If a politician in Iraq wishes to address, carry the banner and chant the slogans of reform, he must firstly handle the word’s burden, strength and violence. Just saying the word reform means the toppling of the political regime in Iraq, where the situation has reached the stage of disintegration and stench. But the word reform - in Iraq’s wretched situation - always returns to one red spot, no matter how much they maneuver in turning its usage in favor of their personal, partisan and retaliatory interests. And this red spot is the dismantlement and condemnation of the political process in form and spirit, along with its names, figures, laws, results and heritage... Whoever calls for reform must realize there are no half-solutions… (Read More)

Jordan

Politics

“Jordanian MB planned alliance with tribal Hirak...” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 18, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its Amman Office Chief Bassam al-Bdareen: “The limited measures over which the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood launched consultations just a few days before the closing of its electoral posts, featured “un-traditional preparations” to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country. But the explanation of the authorities’ sudden decision to close all the MB headquarters in the country under the pretext that they are “unlicensed” requires deep consideration, going beyond any reading into the events based on the tales circulated by the media. This is what Al-Quds al-Arabi understood while looking into the more likely backdrop of the blow that was silently and calmly addressed by the security authorities to the MB headquarters, followed by quick steps to further tighten the siege, as it is believed that the MB bank accounts and real estate property will be seized today without prior notice… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“The heavy French guest” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

USA Europe

On April 18, Ibrahim al-Amin wrote the following piece in Al-Akhbar: “Francois Hollande in Beirut. This piece of news would have turned into a Lebanese, Levantine and regional event had this guest matched his country’s historical weight. However, with this president of “this France,” the news concerning his visit falls into a third or fourth rank behind the news on the disputes between the Beirut families over the mayors’ elections in Mosaitbeh [a district of Beirut]… The country [France] lost its serious roles in the world thanks to its own people. A person – who cannot be trusted by his own family and entourage – was chosen to head this country knowing that his party suffers from a major schizophrenia in its political personality both locally and externally. When the outcome is like this, then how can one imagine the exceptional outcomes of the French president’s visit to Beirut?… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“The Doha oil meeting was concluded in failure…” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Energy

On April 17, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following editorial: “For the first time in months, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia saw itself deprived of its status as the main decision maker unlike the situation at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s summit in Istanbul and the meetings of the Arab interior and foreign ministers prior to that. Indeed, there are major and middle forces that do not hesitate to say “no” whenever the Kingdom’s positions clash with their own interests… (Read More)

Sudan

Politics

“Confiscation of independent Assayha newspaper in Sudan” (Al-Jazeera.net, Qatar)

Democracy and Party Politics - Media

On April 17, the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera.net news website carried the following report by its correspondent in Khartoum Imad Abdul Hadi: “The security authorities have confiscated today’s issue of the independent Sudanese Assayha [The Shout] newspaper after it had entered the print shop, without giving any reasons. The newspaper’s board director At-Tayyeb Mustafa said in statements to Al-Jazeera.net that a security officer first informed the print shop, then the newspaper’s administration, about the decision to confiscate the issue, without presenting actual justifications. Lately, the security authorities have been confiscating certain newspapers before or after they are printed, without giving their owners or publishers any reason justifying that move. Moreover, they have been closing newspapers without court orders and for undetermined periods of time… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Hezbollah communicates with An-Nusra about its hostages” (Website, Middle East)

On April 16, the electronic Al-Modon daily carried the following report: “The repercussions of the battles seen in Aleppo and its suburbs cannot be confined to that geographical spot of the Syrian land amidst estimates indicating that the clashes might be echoed in other Syrian regions for demographic and strategic reasons as well as other military reasons pertaining to the Hezbollah and Syrian opposition presence in some points. One area that might echo the Aleppo battles is the region of Al-Qalamoun and its barren areas especially since An-Nusra Front and its allied factions are attacking the Party in Aleppo while these same forces are also present in Al-Qalamoun… (Read More)

Society

“Alawi students kill two female Sunni students from Homs...” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Terrorism

On April 18, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Homs Salami Muhammad: “Alawi students in the city of Homs in the center of Syria shot to death two female students from among Homs’ Sunnis in front of Al-Ba’th University, in a premeditated murder that followed repeated threats and pestering that targeted the two students who persisted at first, before ending up as the victims of sectarian acts that were not the first in Syria, and will apparently not be the last. Media activist Muhammad al-Humayd relayed to Al-Quds al-Arabi some of the details of the sectarian crime, saying: “The two victims were Marwa al-Atassi (20 years old), a law student, and Maysa Dandashi (20 years old), a civil engineering student. Both were enrolled in Al-Ba’th University in Homs, and came from the Insha’at neighborhoods in the old city… (Read More)

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