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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.

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TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

27-Apr-2016

Algeria

Opinion

“Algeria and Saudi Arabia: Blows below the belt” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy

On April 26, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Algerian writer Toufik Rabahi: “The sudden work visit conducted to Damascus on Sunday by Algerian Minister Delegate for Maghreb Affairs, African Union and Arab League Abdelkader Messahel, was a message to the Gulf States, and especially to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indeed, ever since a wide portion of the Syrians rose up against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March 2011, Algeria upheld a neutral silence, which tended to modestly support the Damascus regime, without ever sending a prominent official to it... And at the time, Algeria relied on a large credit of neutrality in international and regional crises to promote to the Gulf governments its position that said: We are not with Al-Assad, so do not force us to be with you… (Read More)

Egypt

Opinion

“Five reasons that explain the reasons why thousands of Egyptians failed to take to the streets…” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics

On April 26, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following editorial: “Monday (yesterday), went by like any other day in the Egyptian calendar. The Egyptian cities, streets and squares did not see an abundance of protestors in response to the opposition calls to protest the fact that President Abdul Fattah es-Sissi’s cabinet has given the Sanafir and Tiran islands to Saudi Arabia… It seems that the call launched by many Egyptian opposition leaders abroad mainly the MB group headed by Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, the chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, did not obtain the aspired for echo among the Egyptians and failed to induce an angry uprising in the streets under the headline of abandoning the Egyptian lands… (Read More)

“Egypt and exiting the political predicament” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics - Unrest

On April 26, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “Though the point of convergence and divergence, against the backdrop of which the Egyptian political forces mobilized to participate in yesterday’s protests, was related to the “demarcation of the border” with Saudi Arabia, its importance practically resided in the fact that it ended the Egyptian regime’s singling out of the Muslim Brotherhood group... The Egyptian opposition also announced other motives for the protests, as the Strong Egypt Party enumerated 15 reasons for Es-Sisi’s departure from power, indicating: “The shameful relinquishing of the Egyptian islands of Tiran and Sanafir was not the only reason behind the party’s rejection of the current authority.” Its statement thus pointed to the “closing of the political door,” “economic collapse,” “rapprochement with Israel as a strategic ally,” “the stifling of liberties,” and “the presence of tens of thousands of detainees in its prisons… (Read More)

Iraq

Opinion

“Who is running Iraq?” (Az-Zaman, Iraq)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 26, the independent Az-Zaman newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Chief Editor Fateh Abdul Salam: “…Today, there is a crisis that supersedes and replaces all others, i.e. Parliament’s division. And the Iraqi citizens are wondering who is running the country, in light of everyone’s preoccupation with the crises maze, with fishing in murky water, with swimming in the dirty political swamps, and eliminating the people’s hopes of leading a free, dignified and safe life. So, how is Iraq truly being run right now? Parliament’s speakership is drowning in commotion and failures, the premiership is acting as a center fielder, thus moving the high balls to the attack area where there is just one player, who does not know how to manipulate the ball, and is cursing the day he was placed between five defenders from the opposite team… (Read More)

Politics

“Hezbollah in Kirkuk to carry out Iranian plans” (Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia)

Military and Security

On April 26, the pro-monarchy Al-Watan newspaper carried the following report by its correspondent in Baghdad Ala’a Hassan: “With the announcement of the opening of the road linking the Kirkuk governorate to the capital Baghdad, after it was severed for a whole day following the eruption of armed clashes between Peshmerga forces and Popular Mobilization in the Tuz Khurmatu district, northeast of the Saladin province, elements from the Lebanese Hezbollah arrived to Taza in southern Kirkuk to join the Popular Mobilization factions. At this level, Kurdish media outlets quoted leader in the Peshmerga Hussein Yazdan as saying that around 1,000 Lebanese Hezbollah elements had arrived to Taza in southern Kirkuk, to join the Popular Mobilization militias and seize the province… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“Lebanon is in danger!” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

On April 27, Thouraya Assi wrote the following piece in Ad-Diyyar daily: “I believe we can say that the enemies of the Lebanese Resistance Party (Hezbollah) have recently openly revealed that they are launching a real and global war against the Party with their aim being to eliminate or even to exterminate it as if it was a germ causing a serious and contagious disease with the fear that this germ might propagate in the Arab lands or along the southern coast of the Mediterranean from Tangier in Morocco to Um al-Qasr in Iraq on the borders of the Arabian Gulf in addition to Yemen… (Read More)

Politics

“Aounists spill the beans: Nabih Birri is our problem” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 27, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report by Ghassan Saoud: “…Who called on the parliament to convene in a legislative hearing aimed at issuing a general pardon for the head of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea? Speaker Nabih Birri. Who considered that the Lebanese Forces’ participation in the Siniora cabinet is sufficient to grant this cabinet a Christian legitimacy despite the absence of Gen. Michel Aoun, Suleiman Franjieh, and the Tashnag Party? Speaker Nabih Birri. Who, along with the parliament’s secretariat represented by MP Antoine Zahra, is sewing the clothes that the others are supposed to wear? Speaker Nabih Birri. Who has made Geagea a partner in selecting the Christian president instead of being a mere secondary player through blackmailing the Christians by calling on them to agree on one candidate and the electoral law? Speaker Nabih Birri… (Read More)

“The two year ‘dish’ is cooked by French diplomacy” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 27, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report by Hassan Salameh: “Will the impasse of the election of a new president be solved in the next few weeks in light of the recent leaks of a possible two year term for Gen. Michel Aoun as a temporary solution to the present crisis and a solution that will also please all the internal parties as well as the regional sides that influence the Lebanese situation? This question is being strongly raised in the different political corridors despite the positions taken by some main figures who believe that this is not the right solution for the crisis of the presidential void. Indeed, some parties and main references have completely shied away from this suggestion because someone is actually behind it… (Read More)

“In whose interest is it to surrender Ain el-Helweh to ISIL?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Refugees - Terrorism - Unrest

On April 26, the Lebanese pro-March 14 privately-owned Al-Joumhouria newspaper carried the following report by Linda Mechleb: “It would be naive to think that what is happening in Ain el-Helweh is being blown out of proportion, as the alarming and frightening camp is not leading a normal life and never has. But this time, the situation carries more dangerous dimensions. All the information coming from inside the camp says that the capital of the Diaspora is gradually sliding into ISIL’s lap, seeing how the so-called “Muslim Youth” is current controlling several neighborhoods, which have become inclined for the most part towards the terrorist organization with their minds, hearts and loyalties, especially the Tira, Safsaf and Manshiya neighborhoods, parts of Hattine, and At-Taware’ neighborhood. Combined, they represent more than half the camp, and are controlled by ISIL and An-Nusra… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“Saudi Arabia: the Arab passageway to Israel” (Al-Watan Syria, Syria)

Military and Security

On April 27, the pro-Syrian regime Al-Watan daily carried the following piece by Mohammad Obeid: “It is quite naïve to think that the Egyptian-Saudi agreement on the ownership of the Tiran and Sanafir islands is a bilateral contract between two Arab countries and one that will have no political, economic, or even national and strategic repercussions on the future of the conflict with the Israeli enemy entity. The two islands’ geopolitical location imposes itself on the political facts that will following the signing of this agreement starting with the apparent internal crisis reflected through the popular movements in the Cairo streets and other Egyptian cities in the past two days as well as the hidden crisis expressed through the social communication networks or through the positions of some Egyptian figures on the insult to the Egyptian dignity for a handful of dollars, or the feeling of bitterness and disappointment… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Opinion

“A final Saudi gamble for the survival of the Kingdom and for curing the oil ‘addiction’” (As-Safir, Lebanon)

Governmental Reform

On April 26, the independent, leftist As-Safir daily newspaper carried the following piece by Khalil Harb: “Aramco, the tipping point and the new Saudi adventure for survival. Risking the Kingdom’s most cherished historical possessions because the current phase, both politically, economically, socially and on the security level, can no longer afford to walk in the current path of concern. Prince Mohammad Ben Salman, the actual king with no throne, is engaged in this painful bet armed with his position as a deputy crown prince and the head of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, is attempting to rescue the “oil addicted” Kingdom amidst the fires of the region and the changing formula of “security for oil” that has ruled over the relationship with the USA for seventy years in addition to the growing popular challenges within the Kingdom and the power, authority and money conflicts between the princes of the second and third generations… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Why is Russia expanding along Syrian coast among all other areas controlled by regime?” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

On April 26, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Paris Elaph Qadah: “A few months after Russia took a decision to control the Syrian coast’s food basket, mainly citrus fruits, to replace the Turkish products which Moscow used to import before the relations between the two countries became tense, Russia attempted to diversify the Syrian exports to include industrial and textile products, which had negative consequences on the Syrian citizens, due to the insane and ongoing rise of the prices. This Russian domination of the coast’s economic wheel was accompanied by agreements with the Syrian government to implement developmental projects in Latakia, out of all the other cities controlled by the regime’s forces, which raised questions surrounding Moscow’s purpose from its economic expansion in the coast, in parallel to its extensive military presence… (Read More)

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