Ahmed Abel Aziz Al-Jarallah(Arabic:أحمد عبد العزيز الجار الله;born 1942, also spelledAhmad Al-Jarallah) is a Kuwaiti journalist, author, and the editor-in-chief of the Kuwaiti newspapersArab TimesandAl-Seyassahand owner of the weekly magazineAl-Hadaf.[2][3][1]
Ahmed Al-Jarallah | |
|---|---|
أحمد عبد العزيز الجار الله | |
 | |
| Born | 1942[1] |
| Nationality | Kuwaiti |
| Years active | 1963–present |
Biography
edit
Jarallah was born in 1942, and according to a leaked US diplomatic cable from 1989 is "a Kuwaiti of relatively recent Saudi origin [and] relatively humble background". In 1963, Al-Jarallah started his journalism career as a junior reporter in the Kuwaiti dailyAl Rai Alaam,eventually becoming Managing Editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. In 1965, he left the newspaper to join the weekly magazineAl-Seyassahas Editor-in-Chief.[4]In the late 1960s, Al-Jarallah was able to "parlay a winning personality and a friendship with the then-minister of information [Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah] into a publishing empire ". In 1968, he boughtAl-Seyassah,a weekly magazine at the time, fromAbdulaziz Al-Masaeedwith a bank loan and then secured the license to turn the weekly magazine into a daily newspaper from his friend the minister.[citation needed]
In 1977, Jarallah expandedAl-Seyassahinto a media group, which also published the English-languageArab Timesnewspaper and the weekly magazineAl-Hadaf(Arabic:الهدف,lit. 'The Target'), In 1977, the assets ofAl-Seyassahwere estimated at more than five millionKuwaiti dinars($17.25m), which included what was described as the most modern printing press in the Middle East.[5]In 2011, Al-Jarallah received aChallenger 605business jet fromBombardier Aerospace.[6]
Assassination attempts
On April 23, 1985, Al-Jarallah was subjected to an assassination attempt when a gunman opened fire on him outside his offices. He was shot six times, and was rushed to the nearby Al-Razi Hospital by his driver, seriously injured. An organization under the name Arab Revolutionary Brigades claimed responsibility. It was suspected that Palestinian militant groupAbu Nidal Organization(ANO) was behind the assassination attempt. Leaked US diplomatic cables describe observers connecting this assassination attempt to some of Al-Jarallah's political views.[3][7][8][9]
On 11 December 2003, Al-Jarallah's secretary at Al-Seyassah was injured when he opened a large envelope addressed to Jarallah, sent fromBeirut,Lebanon.The envelope bomb contained the plastic explosiveSemtex.The motive and source of the bombing was unclear, however it has been reported that the pro-Saudi newspaper led by Al-Jarallah had been critical of religious extremists and terrorism inSaudi Arabia,and supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq.[10][11][12][13]
Editorial views
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Jarallah's published views in the 1980s were described in leaked US diplomatic cables and by the CIA as "pro-Saudi, pro-Egyptian... supporting of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's overtures to Israel, critical of Palestinian extremism... calling on the PLO to moderate its policies, hardline anti-Syrian, the Iranian regime, and Iraq's territorial ambitions in Kuwait"[3][7][8][9]
In 2004, in an editorial which was described as "breaking long-held taboos", Jarallah called for the Arab world to make peace withIsraeland for Arab leaders to cease using the Palestinian people as a tool of their policies.[14]
In 2010, Jarallah called onPalestinian AuthorityPresidentMahmoud Abbasto start unconditional negotiations with Israel.[15]
In April 2011, in an interview toAl ArabiyaNews Channel, al-Jarallah accusedIranof inciting aShiiterevolution in the Gulf region, and for "trying to push Gulf nations to the brink of war through escalating disputes and using bullying tactics.”[16]
Books
edit- Expats guide to Kuwait. 1984. 288 p.
- هكذا عدت من الموت: So I came back from death. 1985. In Arabic.
References
edit- ^abSabin M. Shukri. The International who's who of the Arab world, Volume 2. 1984. p. 265.
- ^Arab Press Network: KuwaitArchivedAugust 8, 2013, at theWayback Machine
- ^abcSeale, Patrick. Abu Nidal: a gun for hire. Random House, 1992. p. 130
- ^Ahmed Al-Jarallah: BioArchived2012-03-30 at theWayback Machine,The Emirate Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR)
- ^"The Gulf reporter who became a newspaper tycoon". Events, Volume 3. Shore Varrone, Inc., 1977. p. 51
- ^BOMBARDIER DELIVERS A CHALLENGER 605 AIRCRAFT TO KUWAITI-BASED CUSTOMER[permanent dead link].BART International.
- ^abCIA Terrorism Review (U). Directorate of Intelligence. 5/6/1985. p.33. Declassified document.
- ^abNajeeb Al-Wagayan, Sabah al-Shemmari. Major Political Crimes in Kuwait. 1997. p. 203
- ^abMelman, Yossi. The master terrorist: the true story of Abu-Nidal. p. 206. Adama Books, 1986
- ^Beirut's Lethal Letter-Bombs to Kuwait Blamed on Fanatic Islamists. Naharnet Beirut, 15 Dec 2003.
- ^Attacks on the Press in 2003 - Kuwait.The UN Refugee Agency.
- ^KUWAIT: Letter bomb injures editor's secretary.11 December 2003
- ^"More Letter Bomb Attacks on Kuwaiti Writers". Mailroom Safety News. December 15, 2003
- ^FATTAH, HASSAN M.: Kuwaitis Quietly Breach a Taboo: Easing Hostility Toward Israel. New York Times. October 5, 2005
- ^Kuwaiti paper calls for 'unconditional' talks with Israel.Jerusalem Post. August 11, 2010.
- ^Iran inciting Shiite revolt in Gulf: Kuwaiti editor-in-chief.April 7, 2011.