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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

31-Mar-2021

Egypt

Politics

"Es-Sisi sounding the drums of war against Ethiopia…" (Website, Middle East)

On March 30, Abdul Bari Atwan wrote the following piece in the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper: "The surprising statements delivered by President Abdul Fattah es-Sisi on Tuesday at a press conference he held in a center affiliated to the Suez Canal in Ismailia…were a quasi-war declaration. This was perhaps the last warning to Ethiopia as the latter seems to be adamant about completing phase two of filling the En-Nahda Dam's containers starting July without having reached an agreement with Egypt and Sudan…… (Read More)

On Es-Sisi's latest position regarding the crisis with Ethiopia (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On March 31, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: "The Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah es-Sisi chose the Suez Canal…to fire a firm warning against Ethiopia regarding the water crisis between the two countries, saying that touching Egypt's part [of the water] is a "red line." This statement might have a positive local effect but it could lead to further deepening the crisis between Cairo and Addis Ababa. Es-Sisi reached this point following a long hesitation and as he grew weary with Ethiopia's maneuvers in the negotiations that went on for around ten years… (Read More)

“Ever Given crisis paves way before search for alternatives to Suez Canal” (Website, Middle East)

On March 30, the Arabic page of the official Turkish Anadolu News Agency carried the following report from Istanbul by its correspondent Mohammed Khabissa: “The crisis generated by Ever Given ship, which became wedged in the Suez Canal from last Tuesday until Monday, paved the way before a search for new alternatives to the most famous commercial canal in the world. Since its inauguration in 1869, the Suez Canal replaced the old navigation road between Asia and Europe, which went around Africa..., thus shortening the ships’ trips by thousands of kilometers and by 5 to 6 days. The Canal is vital for trade between the Asian states, the Mediterranean, Europe, and North America, noting that out of 39.2 million barrels of crude oil delivered by sea on a daily basis in 2020, 1.74 million barrels go through the Suez Canal… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“Will the French-European warning bridge the wide gap between Aoun, Hariri...?” (Al-Rai al-Aam, Kuwait)

Democracy and Party Politics - USA Europe

On March 31, the independent Ar-Rai newspaper carried the following report from Beirut by its correspondents Wissam Abu Harfouch and Linda Azar: “What a paradox it is that next month, on the 13th, we will commemorate the 46th anniversary of the wretched civil war that was officially triggered by the Ain ar-Remmaneh bus..., while the country is struggling to escape the scenario of the Titanic on which the influential sides are fighting at a time when what is left of Lebanon is threatened with drowning... As Lebanon is nearing the worst scenario possible, which can only be halted by the formation of a salvation government based on the specifications set by the international community, the foreign fears are escalating surrounding overwhelming collapse and its multifaceted repercussions. This is why Paris recently led escalating pressures on behalf of the European Union, pushed by Washington from behind… (Read More)

“Geagea’s roadmap towards Baabda” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On March 30, the Lebanese privately-owned En-Nashra news website carried the following exclusive report by its correspondent Rizkallah Helou: “In his recent televised interview with Al-Jadeed channel on Sunday, Leader of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea gave the impression he was outlining some sort of a roadmap to reach the Presidential Palace in Baabda today, not tomorrow. Geagea’s march towards the “promised” presidency could be detected in his description of the relationship with the various components of the Lebanese society, both the political and popular ones. In regard to the latter, Geagea said in his interview: “We are the party that is the most in touch with the people of Lebanon,” adding he was friends with Prime Minister-designate Sa’d al-Hariri, as opposed to the relationship with the existing authority… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“In preparation for the assassination of the Suez Canal” (Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia)

On March 30, the state-controlled Al-Watan newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Rifaat Ibrahim al-Badawy: “I say it upfront: Whoever thinks that the incident involving Ever Given ship in the Suez Canal was brought on by the bad weather conditions is delusional, just like whoever thinks we are free from the colonial ambitions of the West, which is supporting the Israeli enemy. On the other hand, whoever thinks that the obstruction of navigation in the Suez Canal is the outcome of the alleged peace agreements and normalization of the relations between some Arabs and the Israeli enemy is right... This was an intentional and premeditated incident, which aimed to achieve the following goals. Firstly, create a major transport crisis and stop navigation in the Suez Canal in preparation for the elimination of its vital role… (Read More)

Politics

"The Farasan Island: What could push Saudi Arabia to give it to Egypt?" (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - USA Europe

On March 30, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: "Close to Bab al-Mandib, one of the most important maritime straits in the world, lies the Saudi Farasan Island, which enjoys strategic importance, thus making the talk about Al-Riyadh gifting this island to Egypt quite important and meaningful. In late 2019, some media outlets claimed that the Kingdom gifted this island to Egypt with the aim of shielding the national Arab and African security. The claims seized but re-emerged in March 2021. These pieces of information were linked to the matter of the Ethiopian En-Nahda Front… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Al-Barghouti embarrasses Abbas...” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On March 31, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Ramallah by its correspondent Kifah Zboun: “Member in Fatah’s Central Committee Marwan al-Barghouti, who is detained in the Israeli prisons, embarrassed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah’s command by asking circles close to him to form an independent list to run in the Legislative Council elections, thus defying the movement’s command. A source in the movement told Asharq al-Awsat in this regard that late yesterday (on Tuesday), i.e. one day before the closing of the candidacy doors, Al-Barghouti asked figures close to him to form a list including the members of Fatah who were excluded from the movement’s main list, the formation of which witnessed a lot of anger, controversy, protests, and threats to resign, and was obstructed until the last day… (Read More)

"The Fatah movement will be participating in the legislative elections while dispersed" (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On March 31, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: "As the deadline is approaching to shut the door to the nominations for the Palestinian legislative elections on Wednesday, the political atmosphere is now loaded with too many clouds that might influence the peaceful completion of these elections in light of the launching of the war of the exchanged statements… (Read More)

Qatar

Politics

"Qatari lobby around Biden to influence Middle Eastern politics" (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - USA Europe

On March 30, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: "The Qatari embassy is proceeding with the extensive recruitment process it started early this year by focusing on the close advisors to the US President Joe Biden. In early March, the embassy recruited Mike McKay, from the Empire Consulting Group, and Brandon Garrett, to represent Qatar in Washington for 40,000 USD a month as per the contract filed at the ministry of justice. McKay had served as a former senior consultant for the new House Speaker for Foreign Affairs, Gregory Meeks, while Garrett had previously worked with Rep. Robin Kelly (A Democrat), and the US Minister of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge. He also worked as head of policies and political advisor to the then VP, Joe Biden, during the re-election of 2012… (Read More)

Turkey

Opinion

“The New East Mediterranean” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

On March 31, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Tunisian writer Mohamed Krichen: “President of the European Commission [Ursula] Von Der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel are conducting a highly important visit to Turkey on April 6 to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “at a time when the EU is trying to use the temporary calm in the tensions with Ankara to fix the situation,” as per the German News Agency... Today, Turkey appears to be the cornerstone of the mending of the relations between some Mediterranean states, which reached the brink of the abyss, especially in the last two years. Hence the importance of the visit of the two European officials, especially after what the Turkish president recently said about his country’s wish to increase the “number of its friends” and turn the region into an “oasis of peace… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

"Al-Qa'idah at the Ma'rib fronts…" (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Terrorism

On March 30, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: "The available pieces of information confirm the existence of a high level of coordination between Al-Qa'idah and the Saudi-Emirati alliance. Al-Qa'idah's participation in the battles at the Ma'rib governorate recently alongside the Saudi-supported forces was not a first. This group has and is still participating in all the different fighting fronts since the launching of the war six years ago. However, its participation this time was different in terms of two areas: in terms of the quality of participation, since Al-Qa'idah pushed additional elements to the governorate's ignited fronts, and in terms of coordination, as the available pieces of information indicate the existence of a high level of coordination between the group and the Saudi-Emirati alliance on one hand, and the commanders of the fronts on the other hand… (Read More)

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