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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

26-Jul-2024

Iraq

Politics

“Halbousi sets “difficult conditions” to settle Parliament crisis in Iraq” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On July 25, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Hamza Mustapha: “For the first time since Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi was ousted from his post, the Coordination Framework forces held a meeting to discuss the crisis of the alternative candidates, without announcing any outcome. And though the dispute between Popular Mobilization and the leader of the Taqaddum Party prevailed over the meeting, Al-Halbousi surprised the Shi’i powers with three “difficult” conditions to resolve the crisis… Sunni powers competing with Al-Halbousi had been trying for months to put forward candidates in coordination with the Coordination Framework, in an attempt to distance Taqaddum from the post that belongs to the Sunni component based on a political custom… (Read More)

“Iraqi PM avoids engaging in the conflict between Al-Maliki and Al-Ameri…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On July 26, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “Iraqi PM Mohammad Shia’ As-Sudani is making exceptional efforts to resolve the issue of the failure to form a local cabinet for the governorate of Kirkuk knowing that more than six months have gone by since the elections of the governorates’ councils in the country. Meanwhile, the man is overlooking the same issue in the Diyala governorate as he doesn’t want to become engaged in the conflict between two very powerful political parties in the Shi’i Coordination Framework… (Read More)

Israel

Politics

“Netanyahu is asking for it but the Americans are refusing it: The war bite won’t fit in his mouth” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On July 26, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report by Munir al-Rabih: “The speech given by Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, in front of the Congress was not surprising. His statements were expected as he was trying to come up with a new combat road map in the region and to lure the United States in. He claimed to be fighting Iran and not the Palestinians or Hezbollah and he placed himself in the position of someone who is defending America and the Western values along with a narrative that doesn’t deserve to be assessed. What Netanyahu did was a kind of show in front of the present US administration, especially since he will be engaging in difficult negotiations with President Joe Biden over what he plans on doing by proceeding with war… (Read More)

Jordan

Opinion

“On the future of Jordanian-Palestinian relations” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On July 25, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Jawad al-Anani: “This is probably the most complicated question. And had it been limited to the relations between Jordan and Palestine, it would have been easy to answer. However, a lot of time has gone by since Jordan adopted a decision in August 1988 to ensure political and diplomatic disengagement between the East and West Bank, which created a new reality and provoked a constitutional and political predicament in Jordan… But can Jordan disengage from any future final negotiations surrounding Palestine? Will Israel be able to monopolize the implementation of the special law recently ratified by the Knesset to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state?… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“What does Hassan Nasrallah want?!” (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)

On July 26, the pro-monarchy Okaz newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Mohammed Mufti: “In many states around the world, the official parties compete to reach the presidency, which is common even in some Western states such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and many European countries. But in Lebanon, Hezbollah is controlling the political scene owing to its military machine and militias, which are imposing their control over the Lebanese street by force… History is filled with examples of political parties that tried to seize the state institutions by forming their own armed militias to impose their control over the street… And it is worth mentioning at this level that the people were always the first victims of those parties, which constituted a dark page in the history of the world… (Read More)

Politics

“The Resistance is bracing to escalate in the South…” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Military and Security

On July 25, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report by Mohammad Alloush: “The embassies are still warning their nationals to leave Lebanon “because the situation might change quickly,” which means that we have returned to the same situation as two months ago when the drums of war were being sounded through the diplomatic messages and the embassies’ statements… (Read More)

“The Armenians of Borj Hammoud are leaving: Living with the Shi’is has become hard?” [Part 1/2] (Website, Middle East)

Religion - Unrest

On July 25, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report: “Recently with the dwindling of the Lebanese state’s aura and existence, many societal vices proliferated in several overpopulated Lebanese areas including the Borj Hammoud area where problems have been on the rise. The area is highly populated with inhabitants of multiple nationalities and it is no longer what it was at the end of the past century. Instead, due to poverty, displacement, and crime, the area has turned into a milieu of corruption harming all of its inhabitants… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Palestinian reconciliation in Beijing: Has the Egyptian role retreated?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On July 26, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: “Unlike what happened in the last meeting between the Palestinian factions in Egypt on July 30, 2023, from which three factions were absent, i.e. the Islamic Jihad Movement, the Vanguard for the Popular Liberation War (As-Sa'iqa), and the Popular Front – General Command, and which merely reached an agreement to “form a committee” to “end the division and achieve unity,” as stated by President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas in the closing statement at the time, the surprise meeting of the Palestinian factions in China on Tuesday announced an agreement between 14 factions, at the head of which are the Hamas and Fatah movements, to ensure Palestinian reconciliation, end the division, and arrange the Palestinian home… (Read More)

“Emirates stresses polling of efforts to end suffering in Gaza” (WAM News Agency, United Arab Emirates)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - USA Europe

On July 25, the official Emirates News Agency – WAM carried the following report from Abu Dhabi: “Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation Affairs Reem Bint Ebrahim al-Hashimy said that the Emirates believed that achieving security, stability, and peace in the region required a sustainable and just solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and a political course that leads to the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, living in peace and security with the State of Israel, based on bilateral agreements and International Law, and in what goes in line with the reinforcement of the humanitarian response to the current tragic situation in the Gaza Strip. Hey Excellency continued that the Emirates, based on its historical commitment to the brotherly Palestinian people, and in light of the instructions of its wise command, was proceeding with providing urgent humanitarian aid and supplies to the Strip… (Read More)

“…What are the chances of success for the Palestinian agreement in Beijing?” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On July 24, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: “In light of the unstable international situation and the thorny internal challenges, the management of the Gaza Territory after the war represents a major challenge for the different Palestinian factions. After bouts of political schism and conflicts between the Fatah and the Hamas movements, an urgent need emerged to reach a national agreement that paved the way for reconstruction and for running internal affairs in a unified and coordinated manner after the conclusion of the Israeli offensive… (Read More)

Russia

Politics

“…Putin exploits the West’s preoccupation to arrange his world” (Newspaper, Middle East)

USA Europe

On July 26, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is keen on bringing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and hosting a reconciliation encounter between the two of them in the Russian capital. However, the encounter is not an objective in itself. Instead, Putin is seeking to take advantage of the West’s preoccupation with other crises in addition to the internal preoccupations to arrange Russia’s authority in several regions and to secure its interests by establishing alliances in the Middle East as well as Central Asia and Africa… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Bashar al-Assad in Moscow: A step toward rapprochement with Ankara?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Peace Process

On July 26, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Gaziantep by its correspondent Mohammad Amin: “The surprise meeting held between President of the Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow lately, appeared as though a step toward an upcoming meeting between Al-Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which would mark the culmination of Russian efforts launched years ago to end the hostility between Ankara and Damascus… Indeed, Russia’s attempts to bridge the gap between Ankara and Damascus started at the end of 2022, when Moscow was able to hold high-level meetings between the ministers of defense and foreign affairs of both Ankara and Damascus, in addition to several other security meetings… (Read More)

Tunisia

Politics

“Observers talk about President Saied’s “monopolization” of Tunisian elections scene” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On July 24, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report from Tunis by its correspondent Halima Ben Nasr: “Observers assured that the presidential elections were strongly present in the Tunisian popular imagination, especially after July 25, 2021, believing that President Kais Saied had become the main player both constitutionally and politically… Programs Director of the Ofiya Coalition Brahim Zoghlami said in this regard: “The presidential elections come in a specific general political context, following the adoption of the exceptional measures… that deepened the divide between those supporting and those opposing the new political structure.” Professor Zoghlami added to Arabi 21: “In these elections, the president of the republic represents the main player, whether politically or constitutionally… (Read More)

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