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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.

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

27-Feb-2019

Algeria

Politics

Message from Moroccan political prisoner Nasser Zefzafi to Algerian people (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - Human Rights - Unrest

On February 26, the Moroccan Rif News page on Facebook carried the following statement, taken from the page of Nasser’s father, Ahmed Zefzafi: “From political detainee Nasser Zefazi to the great Algerian people. I salute you, O free Algerian men and women, for your popular action and insistence on upholding peacefulness as an approach to achieve your legitimate demands. Your rejection of the fifth mandate, which has led the country of 1.5 million martyrs to its current state of injustice, slavery and authoritarianism, reflects your awareness and deep understanding of the policy of your Makhzen. Know, O grandchildren of the great Abdelkader el-Djezairi, that even if the border policy has separated us, we remain one people and one nation, sharing the same concerns and difficulties, and wishing nothing but the best for our populations and homelands, for which our grandfathers have fought… (Read More)

Iran

Politics

Iranian media outlets’ coverage of Zarif’s resignation (Website, Middle East)

Media

On February 26, the Qatari Al-Khaleej Online website carried the following report: “The Iranian media outlets were divided over the reason behind the surprising resignation of Iranian Foreign Minister, Jawad Zarif, that coincided with the visit of the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, to Tehran and that came two weeks following the Warsaw Conference where sixty countries agreed on confronting the Iranian threat… (Read More)

“…Zarif’s ‘intifada’ to subside?” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

On February 27, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “…The visit of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, to Iran was executed without any protocol-related preparations following a Syrian request due to security related considerations. There was no observation of the diplomatic norms, no reception at the airport and no large work team to control the visit’s details… Moreover, there was no fifty meter long “red carpet” for the visiting president on the runway. More importantly, there were no media outlets present there to record and transmit the event. All these [details] were not taken into account because the quick visit that saw Al-Assad land at the Tehran Airport two days ago at dawn occurred without anyone’s knowledge except for a very narrow circle from the Iranian and Syrian sides… (Read More)

“Iranian regime contains shock of Zarif’s resignation…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On February 27, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from London: “In his first comment on the resignation he announced on Instagram, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif assured that what he “said aimed to defend the status and position of the Foreign Ministry at the level of international relations.” He added in statements to Arya News Agency that as foreign minister, it was his duty “to defend the Ministry’s position in the face of the neglect of the national interests and the country’s pride.” In form, this position can be linked to the visit conducted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Tehran, and the meetings he held with the regime’s Guide and the president of the republic. The absence of Zarif from the scene clearly revealed that some sides involved in this visit intentionally excluded him… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Syrian Democratic Forces surrender 280 Iraqi and foreign prisoners to Iraq” (Website, Middle East)

Judicial Affairs - Terrorism

On February 25, the Arabic page of Reuters News Agency carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent by Ahmad Rashid: “Today on Sunday, the Iraqi Army said in a statement that during the last few days, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces surrendered to Iraq 280 Iraqi and foreign fighters from the Islamic State organization. A colonel in the Iraqi Army said to Reuters at this level that 130 people were surrendered on Sunday, in addition to 150 who had been surrendered on Thursday. This was the first time we learn that non-Iraqi prisoners were surrendered to Iraq, though it is not yet known whether they will remain detained in Iraq. For their part, Iraqi military sources reported that more of these operations will take place, in accordance with an agreement to surrender a group of around 500 individuals detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria… (Read More)

Jordan

Politics

“Amman-Damascus: Tensions resume between both capitals, bumps obstruct return of trust” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Energy

On February 27, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its Amman Office Chief Bassam Bdareen: “Amid anarchy affecting the management of some political files deep within the Jordanian government, unjustified “reluctance” was seen at the level of the relations between the Kingdom and the Syrian neighbor, after a long series of “border reconciliations” sponsored by Russia, with guarantees from Damascus, and commitments to disregard the points of disagreement and work on “restoring trust.” In the backstage of the failure to restore trust between the two countries, the issue of [Syria’s] “oil needs” has returned to the spotlight, knowing that Amman had pledged to help Damascus secure those needs through the border to the extent of its ability… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“Nasrallah at an internal meeting: I teared up” (Website, Middle East)

Women

On February 26, the electronic Lebanon Debate daily carried the following report: “The Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, welcomed the secret and quick visit carried out by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Tehran yesterday. He also tackled religious matters during an internal, private encounter with the women's committees at Hezbollah on the occasion of the birthday of Lady Fatima Zahra’… (Read More)

“Hezbollah to Al-Joumhouria: The British step will have no effect on us” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Terrorism - USA Europe

On February 27, the Lebanese Al-Joumhouria daily newspaper carried the following report: “A new development emerged that pertains to the British resolution against Hezbollah as the British opposition’s Labor Party called on the British Minister of Interior Sajid Javid to provide the pieces of evidence that justify his decision to expand the ban on Hezbollah so as to include its political wing. The spokesperson for the Labor Party said: “The Home Secretary must therefore now demonstrate that this decision was taken in an objective and impartial way, and driven by clear and new evidence, not by his leadership ambitions… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Is Haniyeh being held in Cairo?” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On February 26, the electronic Al-Modon daily carried the following report: “This is the longest period that the head of the Hamas movement politburo has spent in Cairo. This includes the present head, Islamic Haniyeh, as well as his predecessor, Khaled Mashal. Haniyeh has been in Cairo since February 2, which is raising many questions on the reason why he’s stayed there for so long. Is Haniyeh being detained until Hamas accepts some specific positions? Or are there some deep issues that are being discussed in an unprecedented fashion and that require all this time?… (Read More)

Sudan

Politics

“[Al-Intibaha interviews] prominent Leader in National Congress Party Dr. Amin Hassan Omar” – [Part 2] (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On February 25, the Sudanese Al-Intibaha newspaper carried the following interview with Leader in the ruling National Congress Party Dr. Amin Hassan Omar, by is correspondent Abdul Ra’uf Taha… (Read More)

Syria

Opinion

“The scene speaks for itself: The victorious partners meet” (Al-Watan Syria, Syria)

Arab Diplomacy

On February 27, the pro-Syrian regime Al-Watan daily carried the following piece by Mohammad Nader al-Omari: “Amidst a tumult of statements, actions, and conflicting political projects concerning the North Syrian region, and in light of the foggy American pullout..., and Turkey’s failure to commit to its pledges and it clinging to the dream of a buffer zone, the visit by President Bashar al-Assad to Tehran came to dot the I’s, to confront the bets made by the Washington axis, and to confront the common threats with fateful decisions that require a high representation. This [visit] came concomitantly with the celebrations organized by the Islamic Republic on the fortieth anniversary of its revolution that constituted a geopolitical earthquake on the level of the regional regime, and two weeks following the fourth meeting of the Astana axis’ leaders knowing that Damascus seems unhappy with this meeting’s outcomes as clearly proven by the statement made by President Al-Assad lately when he was receiving the heads of the local councils… (Read More)

“Al-Assad in Tehran: If only the flag was the one thing missing!” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy

On February 27, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “The “business trip” conducted by President of the Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad to Tehran, along with his meeting with Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, was required to achieve certain objectives, namely give the impression that Iran is stable despite the suffocating American sanctions, and that Al-Assad is further exiting the bottleneck, eight years after the popular uprising against his regime. The official media outlets in Tehran and Damascus made sure to convey a positive and celebratory climate, thus quoting Khamenei as describing Al-Assad as “the hero of the Arab world,” and complementing the “victories that addressed harsh blows to the Western and American project in the region… (Read More)

United Arab Emirates

Politics

“Following Al-Assad’s visit to Iran: Tweeters laugh at the UAE” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Media

On February 27, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily carried the following report: “Twitter users laughed at the United Arab Emirates following Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Tehran and the warm welcome he received there. The UAE had restored its relations with the Syrian regime last December. Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, had justified this step back then by indicating that this “aims at pulling Al-Assad away from the umbrella of the Iranian authority and at weakening Tehran by restoring the Arab relations with Syria” knowing that these relations had been severed since November 2011 because of Al-Assad’s vicious oppression of the Syrian revolution… (Read More)

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