World news guide: Middle East
Regional sources
Al-Jazeera
Qatar-based Arabic-language satellite channel's English website.
Haaretz
Highly respected English edition of Israel's moderate national daily, published in Tel Aviv in association with the International Herald Tribune.
Daily Star
Lebanese daily. Carries intelligent, moderate, editorial and opinon columns.
Middle East Online
Pan-Middle Eastern news service.
Middle East Times
Quality English-language weekly, based in Egypt. You need to register to search the archive.
Bahrain
Gulf Daily News
English-language daily that maintains an air of independence even when toeing the party line. Worth a look.
Iran
Iran Daily
English-language daily, published in Tehran by the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Islamic Republic News Agency
Iran Focus
English language website of a non-proft news service focused on Iran, Iraq and the Middle East.
Ettela'at
Ettelaat, "the only international Persian daily", has an English page on the back.
Tehran Times
Tehran-based daily paper. Strong views on Israel and US policy in the Middle East.
Government
Presidency of the Islamic Republic
Iran's presidential site is an odd mixture of the old and the new. Stuffy news mssives sit alongside the opportunity to email the president in English or Persian.
Iranian Embassy in London
UN Mission in New York
Iraq
Azzaman
Baghdad based daily newspaper, primarily in Arabic. Includes news translated into English, divided into news, editorial and opinion sections.
Iraq Foundation
Non-governmental organisation working for democracy and human rights in Iraq. Includes news culled from the western press, and extensive human rights resources.
Radio Free Iraq
News and analysis in English. Funded by US Congress.
Want to know more?
For a full list of Iraqi newspapers published in Arabic only, visit Guardian Middle Eastern editor Brian Whitaker's list on his personal website, al-bab.com.
Government
The General Secretariat of the Iraqi cabinet (in Arabic)
US embassy
This site provides information on every aspect of the USA's involvement in Iraq.
Israel
Haaretz
Highly respected English edition of the broadly liberal national daily, published in Tel Aviv. Email service also available.
Reka radio
Regular news reports from Israel's overseas broadcasting network.
Jerusalem Post
Quality daily. Carries a wide range of opinion - sometimes moderate, more often hardline. Editorial articles aim to draw a moral distinction between Palestinian 'terrorism' and Israeli military action.
Ynetnews.com
Tel Aviv-based English language site that covers breaking news as well as offering a selection of articles from daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Yedioth Ahronoth (in Hebrew)
Arutz Sheva
Rightwing news service.
Jerusalem Report
Fortnightly news magazine.
Jordan
Jordan Times
Jordan's only English-language daily is a concise, quality read. Has covered issues such as the slow liberalisation of Jordan's press.
The Star
English-language political weekly, published on a Thursday.
Petra
The English section of Petra, Jordan's national news agency, offers a summary of news and comment from the Arabic press.
Government
Embassy in the US
Kuwait
Al Bawaba
Wide-ranging Arabic news site with dedicated Kuwait section, as well as entertainment/lifestyle content.
Arab Times
An English-language paper providing news from Kuwait and the world. The site includes the number of page views every story has received, which is an unusual - although welcome - feature for a news website.
Kuwait Times
An English-language paper, an independent daily.
Zaywa
Business news, features and analysis across all industry sectors. The site also includes a thorough links directory of relevant businesses.
Government
Kuwait Information Office, Washington DC
The best official information on Kuwait on the net - including links, media information and travel and business resources.
Kuwait News Agency
Lebanon
Daily Star
Daily Lebanese newspaper in English, particularly strong on local and business news. Recommended.
Lebanon.com
Portal. Includes a daily digest of news from Beirut.
Middle East Intelligence Bulletin
Monthly analytical journal that strives to appear independent. Published by the US Committee for a Free Lebanon, the 'cyber-centre for pro-Lebanon activism'.
Government
Presidential palace
Official site of the Lebanese president, in English, French and Spanish.
Oman
Oman Daily Observer
State-controlled English-language daily with up-to-date news and oil prices.
Times of Oman
Similar English-language daily, with slightly more emphasis on whimsical comment.
Government
Ministry of Information
Fairly basic government site, which includes links to general resources and the official Oman TV and radio.
Palestinian territories
Alternative Information Centre
News site that aims to promote cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis. Includes an excellent set of links.
Arabic Media Information Network
Arabic-English news and analysis website, with articles from throughout the Middle East.
Friends of al-Aqsa
News from a Palestinian perspective; little on Israeli victims of the conflict.
International Middle East Media Centre
Reporting on events by Palestinian and international journalists, from a Palestinian perspective.
Miftah.org
Palestinian 'initiative for the promotion of global dialogue and democracy'. Slick site.
Palestine Chronicle
Another slick pro-Palestinian site with daily news, comment and media reviews.
Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre
Provides background details and statistics about the Palestinian territories.
Government and official sites
Israeli government portal
President Mahmoud Abbas's website
Israeli government gateway
Official portal.
Ministry of foreign affairs
Knesset
Palestinian National Authority information service
Official site containing frequently updated information on Palestine, its economy and politics.
Palestine news agency
Qatar
Gulf Times
Qatar's only English paper. Privately owned, but will not criticise the government or ruling family.
Al-Jazeera
Qatar-based Arabic-language satellite news channel's English website.
Qatar News Agency
A handful of daily updated news items.
Government
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Reasonably useful government site.
Saudi Arabia
Ain-Al-Yaqeen (Heart of the Matter)
Self-censoring news weekly, in English and Arabic, that tries to maintain an independent spirit. Contains some of the longest headlines in the history of journalism.
Saudi Online
Marginally the best of an array of similar Saudi portals, with daily news on the side.
Government
Ministry of Information
Site containing dry government information. Some of the press releases are gems, though.
Saudi Press Agency
Royal Embassy, London
Syria
Syria Times
English-language stablemate of the "Teshreen" daily newspaper. Toes the party line.
Government
Syrian arab news agency
A mixture of ministerial visits, selected but revealing round-ups from Arabic media, and condemnation of "Israeli terrorism".
United Arab Emirates
Gulf News
Daily paper, strong on business news. Self-censoring, like all papers listed on this page.
Gulf Today
Daily with up-to-date coverage of home, Middle East and international news.
Khaleej Times
Daily paper with a range of columnists and an international outlook.
Government
Federal Government
Fairly thorough information on the country's government and people.
Yemen
Yemen Times
Independent weekly: includes a review of the Yemeni press.
Ministry of Information
Ponderous government site, includes ministerial news from the Yemen News Agency.