Mideastwire.com

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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

02-May-2024

Iraq

Politics

“Shi’i-Sunni dispute surrounding Eid al-Ghadir holiday in Iraq” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Religion

On May 1, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Hamza Mustapha: “A heated dispute erupted between the Iraqi parties after Parliament announced its intention to issue a law turning “Eid al-Ghadir” into an official holiday, at a time when Sunni powers warned against “a vicious circle of actions and reactions.” The draft law was placed on Parliament’s agenda for (yesterday’s) Tuesday session. But its preliminary reading was halted by a controversy that broke out between Shi’i and Sunni deputies surrounding the inclusion of the draft on the agenda without consultations, at a time when acting Parliament Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi announced earlier that “the agenda of the next session will feature the preliminary reading of the “Eid al-Ghadir” holiday law… (Read More)

Jordan

Politics

““Jordanian Hamas,” a file rolled in by the “Flood”…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Monarchies/Dictatorships

On May 1, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its Amman Office Chief Bassam Bdareen: ““Why now? It is not at all the right time for its issuance?” This was the spontaneous reaction of Jordanian Deputy Khalil Attiyeh when Al-Quds al-Arabi discussed with him the climate generated by the recorded message of Leader in the Hamas Movement Dr. Mousa Abu Marzook, who clearly raised the issue of the Jordanian nationality carried by a large number that amounts to hundreds – as per Abu Marzook – of Hamas’s members and leaders. Attiyeh is one of the most prominent supporters of the resistance in Jordan and has repeatedly condemned the Zionist entity, urging his country’s government to do justice to the resistance, and establish official relations and contacts with it… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

Questions to the Islamic Jamaa in Lebanon (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security

On May 1, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following piece by Ziad Itani: “…The wise leaders of the Islamic Jamaa – who are many and include the member of parliament, Dr. Imad al-Hout, in Beirut, former MP Assad Harmoush in the heights of Diniyeh, and the former Secretary-General, Azzam al-Ayoubi, in Tripoli – are called upon along with others to launch an urgent internal workshop, away from the media and in the presence of the Secretary-General, Sheik Mohammad Takkoush, to work on sketching the image and making it clear to all the adventure seekers in the Jamaa regardless of their ranks and posts. They must also provide answers to the following urgent questions… (Read More)

Politics

“Where does the Party stand regarding the Birri-Bassil understanding?” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On May 1, Malak Akil wrote the following report on the privately-owned Asas Media website: “So far, the Party’s officials have not voiced any public stands regarding the latest rapprochement between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal Movement…but backstage, sources close to the Party indicate that any progress along this path shall be governed by a temporary, mutual interest and it will certainly not last more than the Me’rab Understanding!… (Read More)

Middle East

Business

“Iran and Saudi Arabia toward rapprochement through economic gate” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On May 2, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Tehran by its correspondent Saber Gul Anbari: “Beyond the heated events and tensions in the region, extensive economic actions and visits are currently taking place between Iran and Saudi Arabia, revealing the two countries’ inclination to achieve economic rapprochement one year after the reconciliation sealed in the Chinese capital Beijing. Tehran might benefit the most from this rapprochement…, in light of its economic crisis that resulted from the comprehensive and harsh American sanctions imposed on the country since 2018, which remained a key obstacle facing Iran’s strengthening of its economic ties with the states of the world due to these countries’ fear of being affected by the American sanctions if they were to economically deal with Iran… (Read More)

Politics

“No solution in Lebanon before maturing of Washington’s regional intersections” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 1, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “French officials have reportedly said that each time Paris consults with Washington on the Middle East developments and the war in Gaza, the response comes as a piece of advice for France to focus on securing the Olympic games. This reflects the fact that the United States has taken solo steps in the region, the final details of which have not been revealed yet. The part that concerns Lebanon in the American action consists of two points: The Saudi normalization with Israel, and the ongoing communication between Washington and Tehran… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Leader in Hamas to Arabi 21: Informed mediators of our remarks on occupation paper, awaiting response” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 1, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report from London: “A leader in Hamas revealed that “the movement relayed its remarks regarding some points, articles, and terms featured in the occupation’s paper surrounding a truce in Gaza to the mediators on Wednesday and asked for explanations and clarifications.” Hamas’s representative in Algeria Youssef Hamdan thus said in exclusive statements to Arabi 21: “The movement’s vision is clear, and it informed the mediators of that. In turn, they conveyed it to the occupation so that it can determine its position toward this course, seeing as how we will not tolerate the imposition of the equation of negotiations for negotiations’ sake.” He added: “The Israeli occupation grew closer to the conditions of the resistance, even succumbed to some of them in this new round, seven months into its offensive on Gaza… (Read More)

“Fatah, Hamas: Seeking reconciliation even if in China” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process

On May 1, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The meeting that brought together two delegations of the Fatah and Hamas movements in the Chinese capital raises questions on the possibility of realizing a reconciliation in Beijing, knowing that the officials of the two movements have already met in Arab and international cities under the same headline, i.e. reconciliation, without reaching any tangible outcomes. The last reconciliation meetings between the two movements took place in Moscow last February. However, only days had passed after the meeting when a battle of statements erupted between the two parties… (Read More)

Sudan

Politics

“Bogdanov’s visit to Port Sudan shuffles Moscow’s and Kyiv’s cards in Sudan” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy

On May 1, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Addis Ababa by its correspondent Ahmad Younes: “The visit of Russian Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov to Port Sudan on Saturday shuffled the cards on the Sudanese arena, especially after he issued statements supporting the Sovereignty Council of Sudan headed by Army Commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and announced that his visit might increase cooperation in several areas. Hence, the Sudanese army, which is also backed by Ukraine, now enjoys the support of the two warring states, i.e. Russia and Ukraine, in an astounding conflict of interests… Media outlets believed that the Russian deputy [foreign] minister to Port Sudan and the meetings he held with the Sudanese officials aimed to rearrange the relations… (Read More)

United States

Opinion

“Ben-Gvir’s herds suppress students in America!” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Education - Unrest

On May 2, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “Around 100 “supporters of Israel” attacked demonstrators showing solidarity with Palestine in the Dickson Plaza camps at the University of California in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Israel’s supporters, as described by the American media, assaulted the protesting students with sticks, steel bars, and chemical substances used to deter wild animals (bear spray) while trying to destroy the tents they had erected… According to a local paper, Vice Chancellor of the university Mary Osako called the police and reported “horrific acts of violence” targeting the protesters while the university officials are “disgusted by the brutal violence” and want the security forces to stop it… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“…Sanaa escalates open naval war” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 1, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Sanaa naval forces escalated their military operations against the American war vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden during the past few hours. This comes after a series of attacks against Israeli vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Navigation sources told Al-Akhbar that the military tension between these forces and the American and British navies escalated to its highest levels during the past 48 hours, calling this “an open naval war… (Read More)

“Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen directs its compass toward Marib…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security

On May 1, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Alimi, chose the governorate of Marib, to the east of the capital, Sanaa, as a platform to send fiery messages to the Houthi group and to threaten of taking back the rest of the country’s regions from the group. Alimi commended Marib “for rejecting the coup since the very first minute and fighting the dark project of the Houthi militia and the Iranian project in Yemen.” He added: “We stress that we shall set off from here and from all the governorates to free the regions that are still subjected to the control of the Houthi militia. Victory shall be achieved thanks to the armed forces and the popular Resistance that supports them… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

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