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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
15-Sep-2016
Iran
Opinion
“Iranian military escalation against Saudi Arabia?”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
On September 15, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s announcement of a large military parade for its forces in the Bandar Abbas Port on the Arab Gulf, in parallel to another major military parade in Tehran on the anniversary of its war in Iraq (which it dubs Sacred Defense Week), raises the current escalation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the level of verbal threats to that of military threats. And according to PR Officer of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Ramadan Sharif, the purpose of this military parade is to “show the Iranian Navy’s power and sovereignty in the Gulf,” calling on those whom he referred to as the enemies of the Iranian people [sentence severed]. This was a traditional Iranian speech, which asked America to leave, added that the “Persian Gulf is our home,” and insisted that the Iranians “will not spare an effort to enhance their security in cooperation with the neighboring states!… (Read More)
Iraq
Politics
“Mosul division project following liberation from ISIL provokes conflicting reactions in Iraq”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
USA Europe
On September 15, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Baghdad Mustafa al-Obeidi: “The announcement of the US Congress’ intention to endorse Mosul’s division into provinces following its liberation from the [Islamic] State organization provoked violent Iraqi reactions, between an opposing majority and a supporting minority. One of the sides supporting the project to divide Nineveh is Christian Deputy Yonadem Kenna, who said to Al-Quds al-Arabi that the project was not new, and had been presented by the Iraqi Cabinet in 2014... Therefore, he indicated, the US Congress’ decision was preceded by a “national” one with the same content. And he assured that the decision aimed to bring the areas that were under the organization’s [ISIL’s] control back to their previous state, without them witnessing any demographic change… (Read More)
Israel
Politics
“Syrian south exposes the cohabitation between Israel, An-Nusra”  (As-Safir, Lebanon)
Military and Security
On September 15, the independent, leftist As-Safir daily newspaper carried the following report by Khalil Harb: “The acknowledgment of the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, yesterday of the Syrian army and the Russian forces having crushed the armed factions was further reflected by the scene in the Syrian South where the secret cohabitation between An-Nusra and other groups on the one hand and Israel on the other hand turned into a public alliance, through an absurd military adventure that apparently yielded some 500 dead and injured men among the attackers… (Read More)
Jordan
Opinion
“Al-Bakhit’s silence!”  (Al-Ghad, Jordan)
Democracy and Party Politics
On September 8, the independent Al-Ghad newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Muhammad Abu Rumman: “During his lectures on the outcome of the “Arab Spring” and its impact on Jordan (at Jordan University’s Strategic Studies Center the day before last), former Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit mentioned he had willingly remained silent during the last six months, without stating the cause. But the announcement in itself indicates that the reason is political, and probably linked to his political opinions, which might sometimes displease internal or external sides. Still, Al-Bakhit’s silence is not exceptional or odd, considering that the majority of Jordan’s political elite, particularly the one that enjoys political and historical experience, and witnessed dangerous turns and transformations in the past decades, is “willingly remaining silent,” to avoid the misunderstanding or distortion of its words… (Read More)
Lebanon
Politics
“Rifi’s war against Al-Hariri features states, figures and scandals”  (Website, Middle East)   
Democracy and Party Politics
On September 15, the Lebanese privately-owned En-Nashra news website carried the following exclusive report by Maroun Nassif: “Resigned Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi did not say what he recently said about Head of the Future Movement Sa’d al-Hariri out of nowhere, and did not deliver his most violent statement yet against his former political “chief” and the Downtown House [Al-Hariri’s headquarters] without internal and regional political data, allowing him to raise the ceiling of escalation against Sheikh Sa’d to the highest levels. This is what sources close to Rifi confirmed, and what the Future Movement’s circles recognized, knowing they were not surprised to hear the resigned Justice Minister say that “Sa’d al-Hariri is finished and the Sunnis are seeking another Hariri… (Read More)
Palestine
Politics
“Iranian efforts to invest in Hamas’ elections in Haniyeh’s favor”  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)   
Democracy and Party Politics
On September 15, the Saudi-owned, London-based Asharq al-Awsat daily newspaper carried the following report: “Well-informed Palestinian sources indicated that Iran is seeking to invest in the internal elections of the Hamas movement that are expected to take place by the end of the present year to select a replacement for the departing head of the politburo, Khaled Mashal, in order to push for its favorite candidate, Ismail Haniyeh, to take over… (Read More)
Saudi Arabia
Opinion
“JASTA: Political anarchy”  (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Terrorism - USA Europe
On September 15, the pro-monarchy Ar-Riyadh newspaper carried the following lead editorial: “The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) is unprecedented in the history of international ties, and will pave the way before a new stage of political anarchy in case it is ratified by the US Congress. Indeed, this alleged act gives individuals the right to sue states, and aims to enable American citizens to file lawsuits before American courts against states “implicated in terrorist acts,” which violates another law that has been in force in the US since 1976, and grants states legal immunity. Naturally, the September 11, 2001 incidents are the ones primarily concerned by this law, though the intelligence committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives concluded in July: “The CIA was unable to confirm the existence of ties between Saudi authorities and the perpetrators of these attacks,” and “excluded the involvement of Saudi governmental sides in the funding of Al-Qa’idah organization… (Read More)
Syria
Opinion
“Syria and the September truce – 2: How are the Turks changing…?”  (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)
Peace Process - USA Europe
On September 15, the Al-Akhbar daily carried the following piece by Ibrahim al-Amin: “Anyone who wishes to do so, may go as far as they wish to describe the Turkish position. But for those who wish to keep things quite simple, one can say that, since 2011, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan did everything in its power to grab Syria. It negotiated with Bashar al-Assad the introduction of its MB allies to the decision making circles. It then unleashed all its security, military, media and logistical capacities to provide a direct support for dozens of armed groups… The Turks then turned a blind eye to the rise of the most radical groups as long as these aimed at toppling Al-Assad… (Read More)
Politics
"Downing of the two Israeli jets paves way for major developments?”  (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)
Military and Security
On September 15, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following piece by Abbas Saleh: “The seemingly intentional and perhaps even constructive state of mystery is still reigning over the operation announced by the Syrian Arab army on Tuesday and that consisted of shooting down two Israeli jets… But regardless of what really happened in this context and the reasons behind the discreteness that seems to constitute a common interest for all the concerned and implicated parties at the Syrian war, the hesitant and confused Israeli denial of the two incidents and the subsequent reconfirmation of the incidents by “a high ranking Syrian officer” to international and highly credible news agency such as Reuters and AFP, have pushed the analysts and observers to dive deeply into analyzing this development… (Read More)
Tunisia
Politics
“Will Tunisian left [wing] learn from Ennahda’s experience in developing political life?”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)   
Democracy and Party Politics
On September 15, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Tunis Hassan Salman: “The statements of a number of leaders in the Popular Front surrounding the absence of democratic institutions in it and the existence of a conflict over power between its components, revealed the turmoil sweeping the largest leftist bloc in Tunisia. In the meantime, a number of observers called on the Front to conduct another reading into Tunisia’s political reality, try to adapt to it, and put forward new political proposals as it was done by the Islamic Ennahda Movement. Leader in Al-Watad Party (one of the main components of the Popular Front] Mongi Rahoui had previously pointed to the absence of democratic institutions within the Front, adding it was currently suffering from political isolation, especially after refusing to participate in the new National Unity Government… (Read More)
Turkey
Politics
“Co-head of Syrian Democratic [Council] to As-Safir: Will not fight alongside the Ottomans in Al-Raqqa…”  (As-Safir, Lebanon)
Military and Security
On September 15, the independent, leftist As-Safir daily newspaper carried the following report: “Ankara supports terrorism and we will not be fighting alongside those who dream to restore the glory of the Ottomans in Syria.” These words summarize a great deal of the scene in North Syria from the angle of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are mostly controlled by the Kurds, especially now that the Turkish intervention at the Syrian conflict, which has been ongoing for six years, has recently put on its direct military attire through the Euphrates Shield… (Read More)
Yemen
Politics
”Secret message from Washington to Tehran: Let’s negotiate Yemen without Al-Riyadh”  (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)
Military and Security - Peace Process - USA Europe
On September 15, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report by Wahid Samadi: “…The Yemenis’ incursion into the Saudi depth, a year and a half following the launching of the war, has caused the Americans to worry even before the Saudis. This forced Washington to make a secret suggestion to Tehran to negotiate the fate of the war all the while ignoring Al-Riyadh. This method that the Americans are adopting is a reiteration of a British scenario adopted by London during the last year of the Iraqi-Iranian war when it transmitted a message to Tehran that read: “We are willing to negotiate… (Read More)
 
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