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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

07-Nov-2017

Algeria

Opinion

“Why did the presidency send Ould Abbes to the Russians?” (El-Khabar, Algeria)

Arab Diplomacy

On November 5, the independent El-Khabar newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Saad Bouakba: “The presidency assigned the creature, Ould Abbes, the leader of the National Liberation Front, to represent Algeria at a minor international conference in Russia, and issued an official statement in regard to that assignment… (Read More)

Egypt

Politics

“Es-Sisi: Forces of evil, extremist organizations, regional states, seeking toppling of equations…” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

On November 7, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following interview with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah es-Sisi in Sharm ash-Shaykh by Chief Editor Ghassan Charbel… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

Fears of Sunni-Shi'i rift (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics - Unrest

On November 7, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report by Sonia Rizk: “The resignation of PM Sa’d al-Hariri from Saudi Arabia is still the main event in Lebanon and the major surprise that even the people close to him did not know about, which raises questions on the backdrop, reasons, and negative effects on Lebanon in general in light of numerous interpretations and unrealistic analyses and expectations thus causing a major panic in Lebanon in General and the Sunni Street in specific… (Read More)

“Ain el Helweh: Palestinians taking a neutral stand” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Military and Security - Refugees - Unrest

On November 7, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report by Mahmoud Zayyat: “The security instincts were stirred at the level of the Palestinian leaderships at the Ain el Helweh camp as they feared that the situation might deteriorate in light of the political crises invading Lebanon, specifically the “expat resignation” of PM Sa’d al-Hariri. Thus, Lebanese and Palestinians actions were launched under the slogan of preserving the security situation at the Ain el Helweh camp and insisting that the Palestinian forces are taking a neutral stand regarding the ongoing political tension… (Read More)

“Events pertaining to Al-Hariri’s arrest…” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Judicial Affairs

On November 7, the Al-Akhbar daily carried the following report by Ibrahim al-Amin: “Yesterday, the suspicious regarding the fate of PM Sa’d al-Hariri were confirmed. Al-Akhbar learned from sources closely connected to the prime minister that the man has been placed under house arrest hours following his arrival to Al-Riyadh last Friday. Until this point, he is still present in a separate location from his family’s place of residence while a Saudi security team is managing his security just like the case of the arrested Saudi princes and ministers… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Abu Marzouk to Shehab: 2005 crossings agreement expired, Egypt made contacts to appease situation in Gaza…” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On November 6, the pro-Hamas Shehab news agency carried the following exclusive interview with Hamas Politburo Member Musa Abu Marzouk by its correspondent Muhammad Haniyah… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Opinion

“The eradication of corruption” (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Corruption - Governmental Reform

On November 7, the pro-monarchy Ar-Riyadh newspaper carried the following lead editorial: “Economists agree that corruption is the most dangerous tool of destruction in any state or society that is unable to fight or eradicate it. And eventually, it negatively affects the entire economy, reduces its competency, weakens its development, increases the state’s debt and diminishes the financial and administrative performance of its apparatuses. This is why the issuance of a decision to form a high anti-corruption committee was a historical development, complementing the efforts being deployed by the command to ensure justice, establish transparency and integrity, achieve an efficient management of public wealth, and hold accountable all those who dare come near this public wealth. In that sense, the fighting of corruption is one of the most important and efficient monitoring tools to support sustainable evolution and development… (Read More)

“Saudi Arabia in prison!” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Corruption - Unrest

On November 7, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Algerian journalist Toufik Rabahi: “After he threw religious and cultural symbols in prison to punish them for their silence towards the crisis in Qatar, or due to his disgruntlement over their popular influence, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman took a bolder and riskier step by ordering the arrest of economic, financial and administrative symbols, who until not too long ago, were a source of pride for Saudi Arabia and the Saudis… In light of these decisions, no one is beyond suspicion, and Saudi Arabia has become without symbols, which pushes one to wonder: Was there truly no honest men in Saudi Arabia except for the Crown Prince and his father?... What the Saudi Crown Prince did was very dangerous, reckless and irresponsible, and revealed a rush to reach unguaranteed results… (Read More)

Politics

“Hariri-Trump meeting key to Bin Salman’s anger?” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy

On November 7, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “…For around one and a half years, the Lebanese knew that PM Sa’d al-Hariri was going through a severe financial crisis ever since Mohammad Bin Salman had decided to swallow his company, Saudi Oger, as part of the general tendency of the Saudi crown prince to monopolize the projects’ returns and use them in favor of his own companies, the Americans and people close to him. In Turkey, Al-Hariri suffered from an additional setback knowing that his company, Oger Telecom, had invested in the Turkish Turk Telecom… (Read More)

“Saudi Arabia wants to include Abbas in its plans to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon…” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On November 6, the Rai al-Youm electronic daily carried the following report: “The surprise visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Saudi Arabia came following a request from Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and is directly connected to the tense relations between Al-Riyadh and Tehran… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Al-Assad: Syria is an Arab [land] and won’t be subjected to partitioning” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security

On November 7, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “At a time when the eastern Syrian fronts are witnessing major preparations for the expected operations in the border city of Al-Boukamal against ISIL, and while the army is progressing in the northeastern sububrs of Hama on the expense of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Damascus once again stressed that its war on terror will proceed until full control is restored over the entire Syrian lands… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“Yemeni official: KSA preventing President Hadi’s return upon UAE’s request” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Judicial Affairs

On November 7, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Riyadh: “Yemeni officials revealed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was preventing Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi from returning to his country upon the request of the United Arab Emirates, which does not want him back in Aden. The officials continued that through this step, the UAE wanted to control the country’s South and a number of strategic islands in it. For his part, another Yemeni security official, stated that during the last few months, Hadi sent numerous messages asking the Saudi command to allow him to return to his country, but never received a response, assuring that in August, the Saudi authorities escorted the Yemeni president back from the Riyadh Airport, while he was trying to head to Aden… (Read More)