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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

28-Mar-2023

Iraq

Politics

“Return of sit-in tents to Al-Haboubi Square due to ratification of elections law” (Al-Mada, Iraq)

Democracy and Party Politics - Unrest

On March 28, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report from Dhi Qar by its correspondent Hussein al-Amel: “The center of the Dhi Qar Governorate witnessed a new escalation in the protests since dawn on Monday after Parliament approved the adoption of the Sainte-Lague elections system, at a time when the sit-in tents returned to the Al-Haboubi protest square that was closed from four axes with concrete blocks. Hence, hundreds of protesters gathered in Al-Haboubi Square in the center of Nasiriyah to express their rejection of the amendment of the elections law, the adoption of the Sainte-Lague system, and the resumption of the work in the governorate councils, at a time when other groups of protesters spread out at the municipality intersection and the Hadarat Bridge and blocked a number of roads and vital bridges with popular gatherings and burning tires… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“France toppled Franjieh, Azour scores a mild progress” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - USA Europe

On March 26, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Josephine Dib: “Two main developments took place in the past few hours. French Ambassador, Anne Grillo, informed Speaker Nabih Birri that the Franjieh-Slam swap – which had been suggested by the Shi’i dup to Paris and which the latter then presented at the five-sided meeting – is now obsolete since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has torpedoed it. As for the second development, it consisted of the meeting between the presidential candidate, Jihad Azour, and the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, Mohammad Raad, and the mild progress that resulted from the meeting… (Read More)

"Leaf in Beirut: Don't listen to Netanyahu, and the worst is yet to come" (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - Financial Markets - Unrest - USA Europe

On March 26, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report: “This is the first visit to Lebanon by the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf since she officially accessed her post in May 2022 thus replacing David Schenker. The visit was meant to take place after the Saudi-Iranian agreement. However, the timing doesn’t mean that Washington is seeking to disrupt the agreement from the Lebanese gate. The visit was scheduled on Barbara Leaf’s agenda weeks prior to the agreement, which undermines all the speculations regarding a connection between the agreement and her visit to Beirut… (Read More)

Middle East

Politics

"Nassiri with Al-Sadiri in the house of Saud al-Thani in Amman..." (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On March 27, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following report: “It was a political and diplomatic photo par excellence, the photo that hit the media circles in Amman on Sunday night where the Saudi Ambassador in the Jordanian capital, Nayef Bin Bandar al-Sadiri, received his counterpart, the Iranian chargé d’affaires in Jordan, Ali Akbar Nasseri, in the house of the Qatari ambassador, Sheik Saud al-Thani… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“How will formation of “National Guard” under Ben-Gvir’s control affect Palestinians within?” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - Peace Process

On March 27, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report from Gaza by its correspondent Ahmad Sakr: “Hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is seeking to acquire as much power as possible over the security bodies operating in the occupied regions, especially the territories occupied in 1948. And clearly, he worked hard on exploiting the predicament of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following his decision to expel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Sunday, which detonated protests against that decision and the “judicial reform” plan… In exchange for agreeing to postpone the judicial amendments, Ben-Gvir earned a commitment from Prime Minister Netanyahu to form a so-called “National Guard”… The right-wing minister had previously claimed that his plan to fold the Border Police “into an intended national guard will supplement manpower in areas that receive scant policing, such as the southern Negev region,” as per the Times of Israel website… (Read More)

Sudan

Politics

“Settlement in Sudan: Civilians name prime minister, Sovereignty [Council] names Army Commander” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security

On March 28, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Khartoum by its correspondent Muhammad al-Aqraa: “The content of the final settlement agreement in Sudan was unveiled, giving the civilian powers the right to choose the prime minister and stipulating that the legislative council should include between 150 and 300 members, excluding the disbanded National Congress Party, which prompted criticisms by many powers, especially the Communist Party… The agreement also stipulated that the Army Commander and the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces will be appointed by the Sovereignty Council/the head of the state, after being selected by their institutions. It also gave the Sovereignty Council the right to declare a state of emergency upon the request of Cabinet, and a state of war upon a decision from Cabinet with the approval of the Legislative Council… (Read More)

Syria

Opinion

“The point of no return” (Al-Watan Syria, Syria)

Arab Diplomacy

On March 28, the state-controlled Al-Watan newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Refaat Ibrahim al-Badawi: “There is ongoing international interest in the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow, which the West viewed as clear support to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine, especially after the Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Putin. It is no coincidence that the Chinese president chose Moscow as his first destination following his reelection for the third time as the president of China…, especially after securing a historical accomplishment with China’s sponsoring of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran... While bidding Putin farewell, President Xi insisted on the strength of the agreement over the next stage and the solidity of Chinese-Russian relations… (Read More)

“The Syria that is wanted by the Arab regime” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On March 28, the independent Arabi 21 news site carried the following opinion piece by Nizar as-Sahli: “The great attention given by the official Arab regime to Syria actually reflects an interest in the fate of the Syrian regime, as evidenced by the events of the last decade. Indeed, quick and palpable results were achieved in the context of Syria’s so-called return to the “Arab lap” among other terms used by the Arab League, the resumption of direct and normal relations, the opening of the embassies of some states in Damascus, and the reception of Al-Assad in some Arab capitals, which were all seen on the unnatural rubble of the shattered Syrian reality on all levels… So, what can Arab relations with Bashar al-Assad’s regime achieve? Before 2011, the regime’s role in all the Arab files was limited to a critical security role and the management of Syria’s economy in a way that serves the agenda of the regime and its men in power, in addition to its key role in oppressing and suppressing Syrian society… (Read More)

Politics

“Has the US occupation in Syria neared its end…?” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On March 27, Abdul Bari Atwan wrote the following piece in the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper: “It seems that the days of the US occupation in northeast Syria, the oil, gas, and grain-rich area, are now severely limited as the US is expecting a humiliating defeat in light of the attacks targeting its bases with drones and rockets by an armed resistance group affiliated with the Resistance Axis. For the first time, the attacks led to the slaying of one man and the injuring of five American soldiers according to the official American figures. The real number of victims could likely be higher… (Read More)

“The first American victim in Syria: Resistance starts now” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On March 25, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “Not a long time had passed since the US announcement on Russian jets having violated the air space over the Al-Tanf base, more than twenty times, thus violating an unannounced agreement between the two countries in Syria, when the International Alliance’s base in Khrab al-Jir in the northeastern suburbs of Al-Hasakah, came under a rocket attack that resulted in dead American victims for the first time since the “popular resistance” started to target the illegal American bases in the country in June 2021… (Read More)

“Saudi Arabia-Syria: End of estrangement, beginning of balance” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On March 25, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “…Saudi Arabia officially announced it is working on restoring its relations with Syria by activating the consular services. This is expected to be implemented following the Al-Fitr holiday in April, thus ending more than a decade of estrangement between the two countries, the relationship of which had always imposed a regional balance that was reflected, in many instances, on other countries, mainly Lebanon, the country that is currently living through a presidential void… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“Washington and the Yemeni crisis: Questions after the Saudi-Iranian agreement” [Part 2-2] (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process - USA Europe

On March 26, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Washington by its correspondent Elie Youssef: “Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, which is affiliated with the center-right, assured: “Let us be honest, wars in Yemen never end. They rather move from one stage to another,” adding to Asharq al-Awsat: “The Yemeni government is not showing any sign pointing to its ability to control its territories. Therefore, preventing the Yemeni territories from becoming the starting point of operations by terrorists, who are seeking to wage attacks on Saudi Arabia, will remain a vital Saudi interest.” And after the Houthis allowed the (Iranian) Revolutionary Guard to woo them, it is necessary to become involved once again in a more serious way… (Read More)

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