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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.



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TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING
27-Mar-2024
Iraq
Politics
“Political blockage facing formation of some local governments threatens [to bring] new elections”  (Al-Mada, Iraq)   
Democracy and Party Politics
On March 27, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Tamim al-Hassan: “A former governor in Diyala, which is witnessing an acute political and tribal division, broke the record for the shortest mandate that lasted just one day. Baghdad had rejected previous orders issued by Governor of Diyala Muthanna at-Tamimi to appoint himself as “governor” by proxy, at a time when the whole situation seemed to be a mere misunderstanding between the two sides. For months now, Diyala has failed to form a local government… And the same goes for Kirkuk, where the political powers have not yet reached solutions in regard to the local government’s formation, leading to the “most difficult choice” of redoing the elections in the city… (Read More)
Israel
Politics
“American warnings regarding an Israeli war on Lebanon”  (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)
Military and Security - United Nations - USA Europe
On March 27, Hiyam Kosseifi wrote the following report in the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper: “As the International Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and in light of the emerging American-Israeli discrepancy, American circles warned about “very concerning Israeli intentions” and “dangerous plans to turn part of Lebanon into uninhabited areas similarly to the situation in the Gaza Territory.” According to the sources, Washington is dealing with these pieces of information very seriously to prevent the execution of the Israeli threats, as it has been working over the past six months to prevent Lebanon from turning into an arena of a full-fledged war and as it realizes that the world cannot afford another, albeit abridged, version of the Gaza scene in light of an international consensus on preventing the war from expanding to Lebanon… (Read More)
Jordan
Opinion
“Talk about five inclinations in Jordan”  (Al-Ghad, Jordan)   
Media - Monarchies/Dictatorships
On March 26, the independent Al-Ghad newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Maher Abu Teir: “The Gaza file is having deep political repercussions in Jordan, which has led to the emergence of opposite public inclinations… Among them is the one saying that the first priority is Jordan and that Jordan could not sacrifice its existence, interests, stability, and relations with Washington by engaging in a confrontation with Israel. Those defending this opinion believe that Jordan was doing whatever it could within limits, and was not required to be the victim of this crisis at a time when stronger and richer states were barely showing solidarity… Another inclination largely sympathizes with the Gaza Strip for inherent religious considerations, which are non-organized in the partisan sense of the word. This inclination is seen in the cities and governorates and views the religious mantra in the Gaza Strip as an attractive point… (Read More)
Libya
Politics
“Signs of a confrontation with ethnic background between Dbeibeh’s forces and Libya’s Amazigh”  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Military and Security
On March 27, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The signs of an armed confrontation between forces affiliated with the government of Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and Amazigh militias have started to emerge in West Libya, specifically in the area of the shared borders with Tunisia. There, the Ras Jedir crossing is still shut since last Tuesday when Amazigh militants seized control of it and forcefully expelled the Ministry of Interior’s law enforcement force. The Amazigh Supreme Council in Libya stressed that “if war was to erupt in the city of Zuwara, then all the Amazigh cities will fight with all their force,” adding that it has been agreed to activate the principle of the joint fate… (Read More)
Middle East
Opinion
“Stop criticizing Hezbollah and Hamas!”  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)
Media
On March 27, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Lebanese writer Hazem Saghieh: “In parallel to the voices urging the Hezbollah and Hamas organizations to become more open to criticism, other voices emerged to demand the halting of criticism, all criticism, as long as they are fighting Israel in Gaza and Lebanon. In the face of such a call, one could only assume one of two things: Either the issues that created a conflict with the two aforementioned organizations, i.e. democratic change in Syria, reforming Lebanon, and restoring its state and peace and war decision, have been resolved and accomplished for the sake of the popular majorities in both countries, or the two organizations have changed in parallel to their conflict with Israel, thus backing down on the positions that caused the dispute with them in the first place… (Read More)
Palestine
Opinion
“Palestine’s next government: A breakthrough mission or suicide?”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
Democracy and Party Politics - Governmental Reform
On March 27, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Palestinian writer Dr. Sabri Saidam: “The answer to that question will be determined by the facts on the ground following the launching of this government’s work, which no two people could argue has the most difficult mission since the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, even since the birth of the Palestinian cause… Accordingly, the field situation and its developments will set the beat and govern the outcomes with which the next government will have to deal, including the outcome of the Israeli offensive and the size of the occupation’s expansion on the ground, its geographical partitioning, security whims, “deportational” ambitions, and exclusionist dreams… (Read More)
Politics
“…Sources indicate to Rai al-Youm likely return of negotiations to Doha next week”  (Website, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security
On March 27, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Hamas Movement went back to its original paper after the last amendment. Thus, the Islamic Resistance Movement released a statement where it announced it was adamant about its demands for a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Territory, the return of the displaced, and a real prisoners’ swap. The Movement said it is insisting on its vision, which it had presented back on March 14 because the Occupation failed to respond to any of its demands. Why did Hamas amend the paper it had proposed in mid-March? And why is it now back to the original paper?… (Read More)
“Barghouti’s name returns and reveals the secrets…”  (Website, Middle East)   
Democracy and Party Politics - Judicial Affairs - Military and Security
On March 27, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following report: “Once again, the name of the prisoner held in the Israeli jails and the prominent official of the Fatah Movement, Marwan Barghouti, has returned to top the news in light of the stumbling Gaza appeasement talks taking place in Qatar between Israel and the Hamas Movement and the quasi-official announcement made by the two sides on the failure of these talks… (Read More)
“Haniyeh seeks Iran to pressure Sinwar”  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security
On March 27, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The visit by the Head of the Hamas Movement’s external Politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, to Tehran raised speculations regarding its timing, especially as it coincided with the halt of the appeasement negotiations and accusations against the internal Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, of hindering the efforts of the external leaders to negotiate. This implies that the objective of the visit is likely to seek Iran’s help to pressure Sinwar… (Read More)
Saudi Arabia
Politics
“The Saudi “day after:” The Arab Peace Initiative is re-paving its way”  (Website, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process
On March 27, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Khaled al-Bawab: “In 2002, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proposed a plan to resolve the Palestinian cause that shall have a positive reflection on the situation of the Middle East as a whole. Back then, the initiative carried the name of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, and was proposed at the Beirut Arab summit… The plan was proposed back then on the basis that the leeway to address all the region’s crises consisted of a fair resolution of the Palestinian cause, and granting the Palestinians their legitimate rights in establishing an independent state with Jerusalem being its capital… (Read More)
Syria
Politics
“… Ongoing Iranian attempts to infiltrate educational system in Syria”  (Website, Middle East)
Education
On March 26, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report by its correspondent Yaman Nehme: “Iran is proceeding with its attempts to consolidate its presence in Syria by infiltrating the educational system, using the Syrian regime’s financial needs on one hand, and the fact that it is not objecting to its interference in the various stages of education on the other, even the pre-university stages, though this is considered to be a sovereign sector in all countries. At this level, a joint action team was formed between the Syrian regime and Iran to develop bilateral relations in the educational sector and enhance the exchange of expertise. This happened during a meeting held in Damascus a few days ago between Minister of Education in the Syrian regime’s government Mohammad al-Mardini and Iranian Ambassador Hossein Akbari… (Read More)
“Human toll of “unidentified” air bombing of Deir Ezzor rises to around 50 dead and wounded”  (Website, Middle East)
Military and Security
On March 26, the website of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights carried the following report from the Deir Ezzor Governorate: “The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted a new rise in the human toll against the backdrop of the “unidentified” air bombing that targeted Deir Ezzor after midnight on Monday-Tuesday. Hence, the number of killed rose to 13, namely 12 non-Syrians from the Revolutionary Guard and the militias loyal to it, including a commander, and one Syrian national, at a time when the number of wounded rose to 36, including 26 elements affiliated with the Iranian militias and 10 civilians, who were injured in the vicinity of the villa, at a time when the rest were hit in targeted sites and areas in Deir Ezzor City, as well as in Abu Kamal and its countryside east of Deir Ezzor… (Read More)
 
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