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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

20-Aug-2019

Iran

Politics

“Zarif fails in ‘distancing’ Kuwait...” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On August 20, the London-based Al-Arab newspaper carried the following report: “Arab diplomatic sources that are closely following up on the Kuwaiti situation said that the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif to Kuwait aimed at achieving a double objective. The sources said Zarif has worked on driving a wedge between Kuwait and its allies at the GCC on one hand, and on exploring the internal situation in Kuwait in light of the fact that the Prince, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, is advancing in age on the other hand. Zarif spent Saturday and Sunday in Kuwait where he met with the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad and the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah, at a time when the state’s prince was recuperating from a health crisis that forced him into the hospital knowing that he was discharged on Sunday evening… (Read More)

“The Emirati detour through Iranian eyes” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy

On August 19, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “...In the past few days, there has been a number of positions regarding the “sudden transformation” of the Emirati foreign policy vis-à-vis Iran. In the past phase, Iran did not hide its dismay regarding the Emirati policies. Foreign Minister, Mohammad Jawad Zarif, placed the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Zayed, in the same place as Mohammad Bin Salman, John Bolton, and Benjamin Netanyahu by calling them “the four B’s” and Tehran’s enemies who are sounding the war drums… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Al-Hakim to form “shadow government” in Iraq” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On August 19, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Hamza Mustafa: “Leader of the Iraqi opposition Wisdom Movement Ammar al-Hakim went farther than the warning addressed by Leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada as-Sadr two days ago, as he revealed an inclination to form a wide opposition front and a “shadow government,” to correct the course taken by the government headed by Adel Abdul Mahdi, without excluding the possibility of withdrawing trust from it. During a meeting with an elite group and professional and social dignitaries at his office in Baghdad two nights ago, he spoke about “ongoing efforts to form an opposition front and shadow government, including experts in all fields, and to interrogate the ministers who are weak, corrupt or have a dishonorable history… (Read More)

“Officials: Extra time given to Abdul Mahdi to implement his governmental program” (Al-Mada, Iraq)

On August 18, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad: “Officials in Sa’iroon and Al-Fatah alliances said that Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi will be given extra time to implement his governmental program, at a time when former Deputy Prime Minister Baha’ al-Araji assured that any attempt to withdraw trust from Abdul Mahdi would mean “that the political blocs have failed to make the right choice or to secure spoils.” In a statement, former Deputy Prime Minister Baha’ al-Araji added: “The political blocs contributed to the election of the prime minister, after he was nominated by a supreme religious authority. And he was a good choice. Accordingly, his success relies on the cooperation of the latter blocs with him, so that he can implement his governmental program, knowing that the opposite is also true… (Read More)

Jordan

Opinion

“The Battle of Armageddon and Jordan!” (Al-Ra'y, Jordan)

On August 18, the Jordanian Ar-Ra’y newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Raja Talab: “It is not out of the question that we wake up one day in the near future to an explosion in front of Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock Mosque, in preparation for the building of the [third] temple over the rubble of whichever one of them, seeing as how the intentional escalation being carried out these days by Jewish extremists in the yards of both mosques is part of the Armageddon doctrine, in which the Evangelicals in America and the hardline Jewish Haredi believe. Indeed, to the latter, the return of Christ requires the rebuilding of the third temple, following the destruction of the first and second… And this Armageddon doctrine is what governs the White House today, knowing that despite his non-religiousness, Trump has become a toy in the hands of those advocating it… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“Between Beirut and Washington: Appeasement messages, however!” (Website, Middle East)

USA Europe

On August 20, the electronic El-Nashra daily newspaper carried the following report: “The visit of PM Sa’d al-Hariri to the USA is surrounded by conflicting stories regarding its outcomes and repercussions although the visit gave the impression, in form, that things are proceeding in the direction of appeasement especially following the visit by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to Al-Hariri’s farm. Even before Al-Hariri’s trip to Washington, the official pieces of news indicated that the prime minister is well-aware of the stringent American position regarding Hezbollah. He is thus not expected to succeed in reducing the American position’s firmness and the hopes revolved around him succeeding in curbing its repercussions specifically at the level of the Lebanese states… (Read More)

“Nasrallah confirms without threatening: War on Lebanon will lead to “Israel’s” destruction” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On August 19, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Lebanese writer Issam Naaman: “On the 13th anniversary of the resistance’s victory during “Israel’s” 2006 war on Lebanon, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reached conclusions and summarized the chapters of the conflict in West Asia, from East of the Mediterranean Sea to North Afghanistan, in five facts. The first is that the resistance is a spirit, belief, and will to live, carry out Jihad and engage in confrontation before being fighting and dueling factions. This is why it has become an axis that includes several cohesive and harmonious sides, with political and military efficiency stemming from and extending over occupied Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran. The second is that the resistance’s main enemy… is America, the expansionist and hostile empire, and that “Israel” is a mere tool in its hands… (Read More)

Politics

“A conspiracy against Gibran Bassil” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - USA Europe

On August 20, the Lebanon Debate website carried the following report: “The USA cannot stomach Gibran Bassil and it shows no hesitation to express its dismay over his political positioning by Hezbollah’s side, in front of its visitors from the Cedars’ country... There’s no secret in saying that the visitors of the American capital have repeatedly heard statements that reflect the “political veto” imposed on Gibran. Thus, this man cannot possibly reach Baabda and sit on the chair there while he endorses politics that Washington rejects. From the American point of view, there is no way that the Michel Aoun experience that came under special circumstances can be repeated… (Read More)

Palestine

Opinion

“On the secret Palestinian report published by the Hebrew press” (Filastin al-An, Palestine)

Peace Process - Unrest

On August 20, the pro-Hamas Filastin al-An website carried the following piece by Fayez Abou Shamaleh: “The Hebrew press published a secret report presented by the commanders of the security services at the West Bank to the leadership in Ramallah. The contents of the report warn the Authority’s leadership against the deterioration of the security situation at the West Bank, which could demolish the state of stability especially as the Palestinian youths aged between 16 and 25 years are living through a state of pressure and fear of the future, for which reason they could carry out some attacks… (Read More)

Sudan

Opinion

“Sudan inaugurates third stage of Arab revolutions” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics - Unrest

On August 19, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “Yesterday, the Sudanese celebrated the signing of an agreement between the Military Council and the leaders of the protests, paving the way before the launching of the transitional phase that ought to lead the country towards a democratic, civil authority, which will ensure political stability and solve the difficult economic problems from which the country has been suffering ever since the oil-rich South seceded from the North in 2011, and as a result of the failed policies adopted by Omar al-Bashir’s regime. Firstly, we must recognize that the agreement does not mean that the members of the Military Council (particularly the side represented by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a.k.a. Hemedti) favor political settlement over conflicts or are farsighted… (Read More)

Politics

“Leader in Forces of Change Satea al Hajj talks to Asharq al-Awsat…” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

On August 19, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Khartoum by its correspondents Ahmad Younes and Mohammad Amin Yas: “Leader in the Forces of Freedom and Change and member of the legal committee that drafted the constitutional document [Satea al-Hajj] said that the prerogatives of the Sovereign Council were real, not honorary, just like the prerogatives of Cabinet and the Legislative Council…, and that the general climate favored the building of a civil state. On the other hand, he excluded the obstruction of the building process by the military men present in the sovereign council, saying they will be positive and active, in line with the prevailing climate. In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat, Al-Hajj denied the existence of secret agreements or understandings outside the context of the constitutional document between the Forces of Freedom and Change and the Military Council… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“Seeking a replacement for Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a first challenge to the Jeddah meeting” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics - Peace Process

On August 20, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “Several Yemeni circles called for assigning the following headline to the first Jeddah meeting: the restructuring of the Yemeni legitimate institutions, mainly by replacing the Vice President, Ali Mohsen Saleh al-Ahmar, who is the subject of much controversy over his military failure in running the battle with the Houthis, and also because the pro-government forces appeared under an embarrassing light during the last Aden developments in addition to many accusations against him of using his post to drown the legal institutions with people affiliated to the MB Islah Party… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

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