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

14-Aug-2018

Egypt

Politics

“…MB calls for comprehensive national dialogue to exit Egyptian crisis” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On August 14, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news website carried the following report by its correspondent Taha al-Aysawi: “The Muslim Brotherhood assured that the “Egyptian people are the only source of legitimacy, which they can give to whoever they want. And they have given it to President Dr. Mohammad Morsi in free and honest elections with the world’s recognition. Therefore, the coup on him was a coup on the entire Egyptian people, and it wasted their will and right to choose their ruler. In that sense, the insistence on President Mohammad Morsi’s return is not based on a personal right or a partisan gain, rather on the people’s right and free choice.” In a statement on Tuesday headlined “Let us agree on one discourse, one homeland for one people,” a copy of which was delivered to Arabi 21, the group indicated: “The leading January revolution was that of the entire Egyptian people… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Abadi’s position towards US sanctions on Iran distances him from premiership…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On August 13, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Mashrek Rissan: “The latest position of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the announcement of Baghdad’s commitment to the implementation of the sanctions imposed by Washington on Tehran, have reduced the man’s chances of heading the next government, and deepened the divide within the Victory Alliance he leads. On the other hand, the position of the State of Law Coalition led by [Nouri] Al-Maliki and Fatah Alliance led by Hadi al-Amiri towards the crisis between Iran and the United States increased their chances of forming the largest parliamentary bloc and choosing the next prime minister, far away from Sa’iroon Coalition that is headed by Leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada as-Sadr… (Read More)

Jordan

Opinion

“Jordan: “Local Khawarij” or cross-border terrorism?” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - Terrorism

On August 13, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “The incidents seen in the Jordanian Balqa Governorate resulted in the fall of 8 dead and dozens of wounded, in addition to the arrest of five members of a “terrorist cell” in Salt City (10 kilometers away from the capital Amman), suspected of being involved in the denotation of a vehicle affiliated with Jordanian security in the town of Fuheis on Friday. What could be deduced from these two operations is firstly the existence of an accurate security and military plan (as well as a political agenda) that started with the planting of a bomb in the tire of a patrol vehicle, which required surveillance and time…, and led to the death of one security element and the injuring of six others. Secondly, the security elements were targeted in Fuheis, not the civilians… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“Hezbollah and the suicide mission: corruption at the heart of the system” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Corruption - Democracy and Party Politics

On August 14, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “Since the Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, announced the Party’s decision to combat corruption and establish an apparatus under his supervision to carry out this mission – with the apparatus being run by MP Hassan Fadlallah – the hopes regarding this suicide mission grew perhaps even beyond Hezbollah’s plans. The main challenge regarding the executive mechanism that will be employed for this mission will place Hezbollah in a confrontation with everybody unless it was to decide to smooth the edges for a number of considerations… (Read More)

“Nizar Zakka’s attorney: Lebanese security chief’s visit reactivated case” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Human Rights - Judicial Affairs

On August 14, the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Beirut by its correspondent Youssef Diab: “The case of Lebanese national Nizar Zakka, who is being held in Iran, returned to the forefront of the scene following General Security Director General Abbas Ibrahim’s visit to Tehran and his meeting with Zakka at the prison in which he has been detained for three years… Knowledgeable sources believed at this level that General Ibrahim’s visit “opened a hole in the wall of this file, even reactivated it. But it is still too early to talk about positive outcomes, while awaiting further meetings and consultations with the Iranians.” Last week, the General Security director had returned from Tehran following a “special” visit that lasted several days, and during which he met with Iranian officials and visited Zakka in prison… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Hamas’s Political Department Deputy Chief Essam ad-Dalis talks to Filistin…” (Filistin, Palestine)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On August 12, the pro-Hamas Filistin newspaper carried the following report from Gaza by its correspondent Yahya al-Yaacoubi: “Deputy Head of Hamas’s Political Department Essam ad-Dalis assured that Egypt presented a new paper to Hamas featuring its vision for reconciliation, different than the one previously approved by the movement. And he insisted that the new paper did not mention “the lifting of the sanctions imposed by the Authority in Ramallah on the Gaza Strip. In exclusive statements to Filistin, Ad-Dalis said yesterday: “One month ago, the Egyptians presented a paper to the delegation of Hamas’s command, featuring their vision for reconciliation. And the paper was approved by the movement in support of the Egyptian efforts. Then the Egyptians presented that paper to Fatah, which clearly opposed it and refused to endorse it, thus obstructing the reconciliation efforts as usual… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Politics

A Saudi-Syrian rapprochement (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On August 13, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expressing no reservations over the return of the Saudi-Syrian relations as per a political analyst from the Gulf who spoke to Rai al-Youm. On the contrary, many are unable to understand the secret behind the satisfaction and compatibility expressed by Prince Mohammad Bin Salman vis-à-vis the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad. Indeed, he has tried on several instances to deal with him as a single individual with the aim being to push him away from the Iranian regime… (Read More)

Tunisia

Politics

“Return of polarization in Tunisia…” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - Women

On August 13, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following report: “Tunisian President, Beji Caid Essebsi, has detonated a debate again after announcing his plan to file a draft law regarding the legislative system that guarantees equality between men and women on a number of matters mainly the inheritance. A number of liberal parties welcomed this decision while other sides opposed it… (Read More)

Turkey

Politics

“Is Erdogan's insinuation to America and its adversaries a double maneuver?” (Website, Middle East)

USA Europe

On August 13, the Al-Mayadeen.net website carried the following report: “The Turkish president who is threatened by the collapse of the Turkish lira and the escalating economic crisis is insinuating to America that he will be looking for new partnerships and alliances, an indication to China, Russia and Iran. However, this insinuation could constitute a double maneuver aimed at relieving the American pressures on the one hand and trying to attract China, Russia and Iran to engage in the process of rescuing his economy on the other hand. But why does this two-sided maneuver seem useless?… (Read More)

United Arab Emirates

Politics

“What is the Emirati security delegation doing in Tel Aviv?” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On August 12, the Al-Khaleej Online website carried the following report: “The UAE is going through its golden, unprecedented phase, in the history of its relations with Israel knowing that, in a matter of a few months only, it has built the largest normalization bridges with the latter that shall pave the way for a new phase where the occupation state shall constitute a powerful ally… (Read More)

“Emirati state of alert in the face of everybody: Southern ports an ‘exclusive right’ to Abu Dhabi!” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On August 13, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report by Rashid al-Haddad: “…The cabinet of the outgoing PM Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, has been trying, since early this year, to impose its administrative control on the ports and outlets located in the southern governorates. However, it has been so far slamming against an indirect Emirati refusal. The Minister of Transportation at the Hadi cabinet, Saleh al-Jabwani, is leading these attempts and working on using his powers to conduct administrative changes in a number of sea and air outlets in Aden and Hadhramaut, knowing that these outlets have been subjected to the Emirati control for more than two years… (Read More)

Yemen

Opinion

“The Yemeni peace project” (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On August 14, the pro-monarchy Ar-Riyadh newspaper carried the following lead editorial: “For many years, the Yemenis went through a bitter experience dealing with the Iran-backed Houthi group, which is lurking any national project, perceiving the country’s geography with the mentality of an occupier, and extensively talking about sovereignty while raising the pictures of its Iranian masters. Houthism, as an insurrectionist project against the Yemeni state and people, did not carry a national proposal or a constructive strategy, rather implemented clear orders to kill the Yemenis and burn their country, to surrender Yemen to the Persian master. And though the Yemeni people, from all classes and political and tribal affiliations, are fully aware of the Houthi project, some in the East and West are disregarding that reality… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

Address any queries to:

info@mideastwire.com