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

07-May-2024

Egypt

Politics

“Al-Azhar is challenging Es-Sisi…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Monarchies/Dictatorships - Religion

On May 7, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The political circles in Egypt are awaiting what can be considered a heated clash between the government and Al-Azhar as the latter rejected the personal status draft law, knowing that President Abdul Fattah es-Sisi has demanded a swift completion of this law to settle all family related issues… The member of the parliament’s legislative and constitutional committee, Atef al-Magharawi, indicated that Al-Azhar objected to the personal status draft law that was presented by the government and has instead presented to parliament a version that reflects its own view regarding the draft law although it is not one of the parties that can present drafts laws in parliament… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Signs of political agreement surrounding new Iraqi Parliament speaker” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On May 6, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Adel an-Nuwab: “Iraqi political sources revealed to Al-Araby al-Jadeed there was a “preliminary” political agreement to hold a session to elect a new Iraqi Parliament speaker this week, assuring that the results were quasi-settled in favor of Deputy Salem al-Issawi from the Al-Anbar Governorate, the candidate of the three Sunni political sides, i.e. the Sovereignty, Al-Azm, and Al-Hasm alliances. The crisis revolving around the selection of a new Parliament speaker is entering its sixth month after a judicial ruling by the Supreme Court in mid-November 2023 to expel former Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi and terminate his membership following his conviction of falsification… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“If the Gaza talks were to fail, the main concern will be over Lebanon” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 7, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following piece by Munir al-Rabih: “The intentional abortion of all the talks regarding the truce and ceasefire in Gaza perpetrated by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu clearly highlights the man’s way of thinking and his plan to invest in and prolong the war. As the negotiations were being held in Cairo, the Israeli media revealed that Netanyahu spoke to the media outlets as “a prominent source” and stressed Israel’s insistence on proceeding with its military operation in Rafah regardless of whether an agreement is reached… (Read More)

Politics

“Details of a secret British visit…” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 7, Ibrahim al-Amin wrote the following report in the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper: “…According to sources concerned with the ongoing negotiations, Hochstein – who visited Lebanon less than he visited Israel since the launching of the confrontations – is now convinced that the settlement in Lebanon won’t set off before a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. The man is working based on the principle of coming up with a mechanism to address the situation, with this mechanism being ready to implement as soon as a ceasefire is announced in Gaza… (Read More)

Middle East

Politics

“After Doha, will Iran host the [Hamas] Movement leaders in Lebanon?” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On May 7, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Mohammad Kawwas: “Since April 17 when Doha announced its dismay regarding American criticism of its role in the negotiations over a deal in Gaza, and since the US press revealed before that that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is pressuring Doha to stop hosting the Hamas leaders…, much was said on the near departure of the Hamas politburo from Qatar amidst many speculations regarding their next destination… (Read More)

Palestine

Opinion

“Is this what Israel prefers?” (Al-Ghad, Jordan)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On May 6, the Jordanian Al-Ghad newspaper carried the following opinion piece by former Jordanian Information Minister Samih al-Maaytah: “What was noticeable was that a Western journalist mentioned that once it completes its security measures that feature a buffer zone and military operations in Rafah, Israel prefers to have a militarily weakened Hamas rule Gaza, with just enough power to control Gaza and nothing more. This is not based on love or hate, but on Israel’s interests, seeing as how it does not want the Palestinian division to end or the Palestinian Authority – despite its security agreement with Israel – to go back to ruling Gaza. Instead, it wants to maintain “two states,” each with its own movement, limited to whatever prerogatives and materials authorized by the occupation… (Read More)

Politics

“An unprecedented flow of aid: The people of Gaza are suspicious” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Human Rights

On May 3, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “The footage showing dozens of trucks starting to flow into the areas of the north Gaza valley via the Beit Hanoun/Erez crossing that the Occupation army has reopened for work for the first time since October 7 has caused conflicting feelings. While hundreds of young men died trying to obtain a bag of white flour from the Nabulsi and Kuwait passageways, at the pinnacle of the siege imposed on the northern part of the Territory, the price of the same bag is now no more than ten dollars per a 25-kilo bag due to the abundance of flour on the streets… (Read More)

“Rafah invasion: Israeli threats to force Hamas to concede” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - Peace Process

On May 7, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: “Knowledgeable Egyptian sources about the mediation efforts undertaken by Cairo to deal with the Gaza crisis said that “the current Egyptian estimates view the Israeli threats to invade the Palestinian city of Rafah as an attempt to exert further pressures on the Palestinian resistance rather than a prelude for an imminent action on the ground through the invasion of Rafah.” The source added to Al-Araby al-Jadeed: “Despite the obstruction of the negotiations on Sunday due to the Israeli refusal, the Egyptian officials are still hopeful that a breakthrough can be achieved at the last moment, especially while CIA Chief William Burns is present in Doha, which creates better chances for the truce negotiations” despite the Israeli invasion threats… (Read More)

“Hamas understands Egyptian, Qatari marks of anger, agrees to truce conditions” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - Peace Process

On May 7, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Hamas Movement suddenly announced its acceptance of the Egyptian and Qatari proposal related to the appeasement that includes a temporary halt of the battles, despite the earlier statements voiced by the Movement that categorically rejected any appeasement that doesn’t lead to a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s pullout to the pre-October 7 limits. Meanwhile, Hamas’ new position took Israel by surprise prompting the latter to call this a ruse and to deny reaching an agreement… (Read More)

“Knowledgeable source to Jazeera.net: Agreement features sustained calm, permanent halting of military activities” (Al-Jazeera.net, Qatar)

Military and Security - Peace Process

On May 6, the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera.net news site carried the following report: “A source knowledgeable about the ceasefire talks assured that important developments pushed the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to announce its approval of the latest proposal it received from the mediators during its delegation’s visit to Cairo on Saturday. The source indicated that during its meeting with the mediators in Cairo and Doha, Hamas stressed the need for the introduction of the agreement to feature two essential points surrounding the halting of the war. Consequently, the proposed agreement spoke about “sustained calm and the permanent halting of the military and hostile operations, while lifting the siege imposed on the Palestinian people by the end of the third stage of the agreement, which is composed of three stages of 42 days each… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Will Al-Aqsa Flood ruin Syrian-Iranian relations?...” [Part 1-2] (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - Peace Process

On May 6, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Damascus: “The winds of the Gaza war have swept Iran’s military presence in Syria, forcing Tehran to draw up plans to evacuate the Revolutionary Guard elements and move the known headquarters of its command from Rif Dimashq to areas close to Lebanon, following the death of many prominent leaders in Israeli raids. The winds of this war also swept the relations between the two countries, as they started to wither in light of the “neutral” position adopted by Damascus toward it. This was reflected by the coldness seen between the presidential institutions in both countries, and Damascus’ distancing of itself from the “unity of the arenas” axis, amid Tehran’s suspicions that Syrian security bodies are involved in leaking information about its officers’ movements, and concerns toward Damascus’ cooperation with the signs of Arab openness and its wish to exit the Iranian bottleneck by normalizing the relations with the West… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“Security bodies reveal details of thwarted American, Israeli enemies’ intelligence activities” (SABA, Yemen)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 6, the Houthi-affiliated SABA News Agency carried the following report from Sana’a: “The security bodies revealed that with the help of the relevant sides at the Defense Ministry, they were able to arrest several spies during the last few days after they were recruited by officers and elements affiliated with an intelligence entity called “Force 400,” led by wanted spy Ammar Affash. At this level, a security source told the Yemeni SABA News Agency that the spies were recruited to collect information and monitor sites affiliated with the Yemeni Armed Forces on the western coast of the Yemeni Republic for the sake of the American and Israeli enemies. He added that after the Yemeni people and their command launched the “Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad” battle in support of the besieged Palestinian people…, the security bodies detected intelligence activities by the American and Israeli enemies and their agents from among the traitors and hypocrites… (Read More)

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