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

26-Apr-2024

Algeria

Politics

“Libya torpedoes Tebboune’s plan to establish a new Maghrebin entity” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - Peace Process

On April 26, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “It appears that the efforts of Algerian President, Abdelmajid Tebboune, to establish a three-party union with Tunisia and Libya to replace the Maghreb Union by leaving out Morocco and Mauritania, have failed miserably. Indeed, less than 24 hours after the statement by the Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Samer al-Manfi, who was visiting Rabat and who stressed the role of the Moroccan Kingdom as an active and influential state in the Arab Maghreb Union, Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, received a message on Wednesday from Al-Manfi regarding the activation of the Arab Maghreb Union and the enhancement of cooperation between the two countries… (Read More)

Egypt

Politics

“Egypt is smothering its people: Solidarity with Palestine is forbidden" (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Monarchies/Dictatorships - Unrest

On April 26, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “Although Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah es-Sisi, had called on the people to engage in protests at the beginning of the Israeli war on the Gaza Territory, an action aimed at highlighting the Egyptian’s support for the decision to reject the Palestinians’ displacement from the Territory to the Egyptian lands, the Egyptian authorities are now refusing to grant permits to any protest related to the Palestinian matter. The intelligence services officially released a decision to ban protests amidst extensive security reinforcements that the Ministry of Interior is implementing in squares and places expected to host rallies… (Read More)

“Egyptian emergency plan starting Tuesday in preparation for Rafah invasion operation” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - Refugees

On April 26, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: “Private Egyptian sources revealed that instructions were issued to several sectors in the three governorates of the Canal of Suez region, i.e. Ismailia, Suez, and Port Said, in addition to the governorates of Ash-Sharqia, North Suez, and South Suez, to increase their readiness to its highest levels and annul all vacations with the launching of the emergency plan starting next Tuesday, which points to the imminent invasion of Rafah. The sources, who spoke to Al-Araby al-Jadeed, said that the “hospital administrations in the three governorates of the Canal and Ash-Sharqia were instructed to move any surgeries on that date to hospitals in nearby governorates, and summon all doctors from their breaks so that they are ready to deal with any emergency… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Al-Halbousi’s party threatens to withdraw from political process” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics

On April 25, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Fadel an-Nishmi: “It is clear that the Parliament speaker’s post, which political customs in Iraq assigned to the Sunni component, is no longer bound by this component’s parties and powers’ selection of a figure they deem suitable to occupy it. Moreover, the most influential and representative Sunni bloc in Parliament is no longer monopolizing that post, seeing as how the Progress Party led by ousted Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi is unable to get it despite its numerical superiority in Parliament over the remaining Sunni blocs… Hence, circles close to the Progress Party and Al-Halbousi did not exclude their full withdrawal from the political process… (Read More)

Israel

Opinion

“Israeli militias to suppress America’s students!” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Education - Military and Security - USA Europe

On April 26, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “On April 18, the students at the American Columbia University launched a sit-in on the campus lawn in protest against the university’s financial investments in companies that support the occupation of Palestine. Later, the demonstrations reached other universities such as New York University, Yale, MIT, North Carolina University, and Texas University, and inspired the students of universities in France, Egypt, and Turkey. Hence, we read yesterday that students at the Sorbonne carried out a protest in the presence of French President Emmanual Macron and that Egyptian Students at the American University were subject to excessive violence in response to a limited protest during an event… (Read More)

Politics

“This is how the Americans financed Rafah’s invasion” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Human Rights - Military and Security - Refugees - USA Europe

On April 26, Toni Issa wrote the following report in the privately-owned Al-Joumhouria daily newspaper: “Six months ago, the Hamas Movement was stronger, Gaza was neither destroyed, nor displaced, nor home to 100,000 dead and injured individuals. Instead, Gaza enjoyed a certain extent of self-administration. Today, the following question is warranted: Six months from now, where will Hamas be? What will remain of Gaza in terms of people and property…?… (Read More)

Jordan

Politics

“A new Jordanian party causes a surprise and sweeps the governorates’ councils” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Monarchies/Dictatorships

On April 26, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “A newly established political party in Jordan caused a surprise by winning most of the seats of the governorates’ councils in the Kingdom. Irada, a centrist party founded around two years ago, succeeded in obtaining the chairmanship of ten seats at the governorates’ councils out of twelve seats all over the Kingdom. The success achieved by the party coincides with the launching of the preparations for the parliamentary elections that constitute an important stop to translate the reforms that have been introduced into the political system in Jordan… (Read More)

Middle East

Politics

“Algerian-Tunisian-Libyan summit in Tunis imposed by challenges” (Agencies, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On April 25, the Arab World Press Agency (AWP) carried the following report by its correspondents Hassan Wahbi and Amal Abu as-Saoud: “A consultative summit hosted by the Tunisian capital this week between Tunisian President Kais Saied and his guests, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi raised a lot of attention in light of the numerous challenges facing the three countries… and the numerous files they share, namely the security file involving illegal migration and organized crime, and the economic and investment files… Regarding the security file, Algerian Deputy Ahmed Sadok, who heads the parliamentary bloc of the Movement of Society for Peace, indicated that some Sahel states and some areas south of Libya have become a hotbed for organized crime and arms and drug smugglers among others, using the turmoil sweeping the country… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“A ‘disarmed Hamas:’ Hamas’ plan to exit the Gaza impasse” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security - Peace Process

On April 26, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Hamas official Khalil al-Hayyeh expressed the Movement’s willingness to drop its weapons and turn into a political party if it were to obtain strong pledges for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders. Meanwhile, observers are saying that the “disarmed Hamas plan” aims at securing a way out of the war impasse all the while maintaining its political presence and trying to obtain international recognition… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Politics

“Al-Riyadh to Washington: Take it or leave it” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On April 26, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Ibrahim Rayhan: “…The visit by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to the Saudi capital where he will be meeting with Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, is crucial. Washington is seeking to reach a “comprehensive historical agreement” with the Kingdom that re-sketches the strategic relationship between the two countries on all the political, security, military, economic, and even nuclear levels before the deadline of the US presidential elections in seven months… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“LLC replicates regime’s methods: Attacks and promises to contain protests” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Governmental Reform - Military and Security

On April 26, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Gaziantep by its correspondent Mohammad Amin: “The attacks targeting the demonstrators against the Levant Liberation Committee (formerly An-Nusra), the authority of the fait accompli in northwest Syria, are escalating, which indicates that the security apparatus affiliated with the LLC is trying to contain the raging action against it in Idlib’s countryside for months. This is happening in parallel to the slow implementation of the measures and reforms it had promised, and which some view as a mere maneuver to gain time… At this level, political activist in northwest Syria Rami Abdul Haqq told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the LLC’s security apparatus “infiltrated the demonstrators with elements wearing civilian clothes, in order to provoke them, end their peacefulness, and create disputes within the demonstrations… (Read More)

“Why did Iran reduce its military presence in Syria?...” [Part 2-2] (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On April 24, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from London by its correspondent Ali Saray: “Iraqi politicians and sources in the armed factions concluded that Iran will not engage in an open confrontation this year, at least until after the American elections. The Shi’i politician told Asharq al-Awsat at this level: “Reducing the Iranian military presence in Syria is a measure directed toward American President Joe Biden in particular, to give him a victory in form in the region due to Iran’s wish not to see Trump or any hardline Republican win the American presidential elections.” According to the Iraqi politician, the last few months witnessed an unusual intensification of the mutual messages between Washington and Tehran, some of which happened directly and in the rare presence of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian… (Read More)

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