Mideastwire.com

WHAT WE DO

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.

Our Corrections Policy: We adhere to an honest and open corrections policy. Please email info@mideastwire.com if you notice any typo or if you disagree with our translation choices. Since we do not produce our own content, we only will consider corrections that highlight typos or dispute our translations, not the veracity or accuracy of the original content. Accepted corrections are applied directly to the relevant translations as soon as they are approved by the editor and our database is updated accordingly for all subscribers.

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

08-Nov-2017

Egypt

Opinion

“The new right which the president added on his own!” (Al-Mesryoon, Egypt)

Human Rights - Judicial Affairs

On November 7, the independent Al-Mesryoon newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Executive Chief Editor Mahmoud Sultan: “In his speech before the Sharm ash-Shaykh conference (November 4-10), the president said he had added a new right to the internationally-regonized list of “human rights,” i.e. the “right to fight terrorism!...” However, this is considered a dangerous, if not a rash addition, because the term “terrorism” is very vague and broad, and can be tailored to fit any person, side, party, group, denomination or sect, which is not politically or ideologically to the liking of the authority, even if it is not adopting violence as an option in its relationship with society or the state. Our Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri himself said during a meeting with top students at the Foreign Ministry headquarters on August 21, 2016: “The killing of Palestinian children by Israel cannot be considered terrorism as long as there is no international agreement over the definition of terrorism… (Read More)

Iraq

Opinion

“Has the armed resistance begun in Kurdistan?” (Elaph, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - Unrest

On November 8, Serbast Bamerni wrote the following piece in the Saudi-owned Elaph website: “Two separate incidents occurred last weeks, the first of which occurred in the area of Kora Hanjer, which is located on the road leading from Kirkuk to Sulaymaniyah; while the second incident took place at the heart of the city of Kirkuk where two armed groups launched an attack on the governmental forces and militias affiliated to them thus costing these forces physical losses and a number of dead and wounded victims. However, no side claimed responsibility for these incidents, which were completely overlooked by the official media… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“Bring Sa’d al-Hariri back to Beirut now!” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics

On November 8, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following piece by Ibrahim al-Amin: “This is a position that must constitute a Lebanese priority regardless of any debate on the real position of PM Sa’d al-Hariri regarding the present crisis and away from all the differences regarding the major national priorities. This is a duty, even from a position of political adversity, stemming from the conviction that Al-Hariri, as a hostage, might be forced to cave to the terms of the Kingdom of Oppression, and to abide by the demands of the mad ruler of Al-Riyadh by trying to push Lebanon towards chaos and destruction… (Read More)

Politics

“Hezbollah will not accept a government of technocrats…” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On November 7, the Lebanese privately-owned En-Nashra news website carried the following exclusive report by Maher al-Khatib: “Despite the fact that President of the Republic General Michel Aoun is obviously taking his time in settling the fate of Prime Minister Sa’d al-Hariri’s resignation…, many scenarios are currently being discussed, especially since Saudi Arabia might undertake a new step to confirm that Al-Hariri made his decision willingly and far away from any pressures. At this level, knowledgeable sources indicated to En-Nashra that the information saying that the prime minister was forced to resign was 100% accurate, despite the announcement of his trip to the UAE to meet with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed. And while they continued that Al-Hariri might conduct another visit to the French capital Paris to confirm his freedom, they assured that Riyadh was controlling all his movements… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“The inevitability of the Saudi-Iranian dialogue” (Al-Masry al-Yawm, Egypt)

Arab Diplomacy

On November 8, the Al-Masry al-Yawm daily carried the following piece by Abdul Nasser Salama: “We must admit that a by-proxy Saudi-Iranian war is taking place in Syria. Another war also between these two countries is taking place in Yemen and there are clear attempts at launching a third war in Lebanon. The two of them are locked in a sectarian conflict in Iraq and a political conflict in Qatar. There’s an Iranian sectarian authority in Bahrain as well as the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. There’s an unprecedented armament race taking place in the region on the margins of all these confrontations and struggles… In short, the region’s riches are being drained for futile reasons that are more personal than practical or realistic… (Read More)

“..Six expected scenarios for the upcoming war on Iran, Hezbollah…” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On November 7, Abdul Bari Atwan wrote the following piece in the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper: “Our region is standing on the verge of war and we must not be preoccupied with the little details such as Al-Hariri’s resignation or the arrest of princes and former ministers while the real developments are taking place in secret and while the next phase that will follow the “purge” of Prince Mohammad Bin Salman at the level of the internal Saudi front is the most dangerous one. Indeed, the “purge” operations are a preface for the scenarios of a regional war that could be the most dangerous one in the history of the region. We are well aware of what we’re saying… (Read More)

Palestine

Opinion

“The road to reconciliation goes through the resistance solely” (Filastin al-An, Palestine)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Peace Process

On November 6, the pro-Hamas Filastin al-An website carried the following piece by Saleh al-Noami: “After signing the reconciliation agreement, Mahmoud Abbas behaved as expected. He set off from the assumption that the Hamas movement’s only choice was to abide by all his orders, and that there is room to extract all the resulting hidden energy by exerting additional pressures and imposing additional sanctions on Gaza. Thus, instead of improving the economic situation at the Gaza territory following the signing of the reconciliation, Abbas made sure to make this situation worse… (Read More)

Politics

“Al-Quds al-Arabi publishes leaks of US offer to Authority…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process - USA Europe

On November 8, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Ramallah by its correspondent Fadi Abu Saada: “Palestinian sources stated to Al-Quds al-Arabi that what the new American Administration led by Donald Trump had in mind in regard to the so-called regional solution was a “political disaster” in the full meaning of the word. At this level, leaks acquired by Al-Quds al-Arabi spoke about the US Administration’s approval of the recognition of a Palestinian state “solely on paper,” in exchange for freezing the Israeli settlement activities, ensuring economic facilitations in the so-called Area C as per the Oslo Accord, and facilitating movement through the crossings, whether the Karama border crossing with Jordan or the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in parallel to Arab normalization with the Israeli occupation state… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Opinion

“War drums are rolling” (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)

Military and Security

On November 8, the pro-monarchy Okaz newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Khalaf al-Harbi: “Amid the exiting reports that have been emerging throughout the last couple of days, voices overlapped and commotion rose from all sides. However, one dull and alarming sound coming from afar continued to be heard, without the ear being able to disregard it regardless of the tumult around us. It was the sound of the drums of war, which is about to erupt in our region, and in which our country – May Allah protect it – will clearly be a main party. The resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’d al-Hariri a few days ago revealed that the confrontation of Iran and Hezbollah will take a new shape, while the ballistic missile fired by the Houthis on Riyadh revealed the size of the grave danger we are witnessing today… (Read More)

Politics

“Here is the real story of the dispute…” (Website, Middle East)

On November 7, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily carried the following report: “Foreign sides had advised Al-Waleed Bin Talal, months ago, to take the necessary measures to dodge a reaction by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman who views him as an adversary in the ongoing conflict. He [Bin Talal] was then arrested, three days ago, for charges of money laundering in addition to former princes and ministers… (Read More)

Yemen

Opinion

“Al-Houthi’s missiles and the UN’s contradictions” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - United Nations

On November 7, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Amal Abdul-Aziz al-Hazani: “The missile attack on the Saudi capital Riyadh a few days ago was staged by Al-Houthi from Yemen, while the missile itself was manufactured and smuggled by Iran which ordered its launching. Still, there is a third side that is indirectly responsible for this crime, and that is the United Nations. The question on this difficult occasion is the following: Will the UN, with its shaky reports, impose sanctions or condemn Iran’s development of its missile system and its support of Al-Houthi’s ongoing attacks on the Saudi territories, including Holy Mecca and the capital?... The positions of this organization, which is supposed to be tending to the international community, are selective to say the least… (Read More)

“Yemeni president joins those placed under house arrest in Saudi Arabia” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Judicial Affairs

On November 8, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “News agencies have confirmed what this paper had said regarding the prevention of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi from leaving Saudi Arabia, where he has been quasi-permanently residing since he left Yemen at the beginning of the year. The Saudi authorities attributed this ban to security reasons linked to the protection of the president in Aden, though the real reason is known to all. Indeed, Riyadh is meeting the UAE’s wish, which engaged with Mr. Hadi in an open and comprehensive conflict that is no longer limited to backstage meetings, and has emerged to the spotlight following Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Qarqash’s tweet regarding the fact that Hadi had “stabbed his allies in the back,” and Dubai Deputy Police and General Security Chief Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim’s tweet regarding the fact that Hadi was no longer “tolerated in North and South Yemen… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

Address any queries to:

info@mideastwire.com