Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Al-Jarallah is a Kuwaiti journalist, author, and the editor-in-chief of the Kuwaiti newspapers Arab Times
and Al-Seyassah
and owner of the weekly magazine Al-Hadaf. Jarallah is known for his criticism of Islamic extremists.
In 1963, Al-Jarallah started his journalism career in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai Al-Aam, eventually becoming Managing Editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. In 1965, he left the newspaper to join the weekly magazine Al-Seyassah as Editor-in-Chief.
In 1968, he became the owner of Al-Seyassah, which he changed from a weekly magazine to a daily newspaper format. In 1977, Jarallah expanded Al-Seyassah into a media group, which also publishes the English-language Arab Times newspaper and the weekly magazine Al-Hadaf (The Target). The assets of Al-Seyassah have been estimated at more than five million Kuwaiti dinars ($17.25m) in 1977 values, including a printing plant which was at the time the most modern in the region.
On April 23, 1985, Al-Jarallah escaped death when a gunman opened fire on him outside his offices in the Shuwaikh Area. 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 is estimated that Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) was behind the assassination attempt. The CIA reported that Jarallah's published views were "pro-Saudi, pro-egyptian, and critical of Palestinian extremism, the Iranian regime, and Iraq's territorial ambitions in Kuwait"
On 11 December 2003, Al-Jarallah's secretary at Al-Seyassah was injured when he opened a large envelope addressed to Jarallah, sent from Beirut
, Lebanon
. The envelope bomb contained the plastic explosive Semtex
. 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 in Saudi Arabia
, and supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
In 2011, Al-Jarallah received a Challenger 605 business jet from Bombardier Aerospace
.
and for Arab leaders to cease using using the Palestinian people as a tool of their policies.
In 2010, Jarallah called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
to start unconditional negotiations with Israel.
In April 2011, in an interview to Al Arabiya
News Channel, al-Jarallah accused Iran
of inciting a Shiite revolution in the Gulf region, and for "trying to push Gulf nations to the brink of war through escalating disputes and using bullying tactics.”
Arab Times
Arab Times is an English-language newspaper published from Kuwait. Established in February 1977 by Dar Al-Seyassah newspaper which started the weekly Arab Times newspaper and soon transferred it into a daily newspaper with a remarkable role in Kuwait and the Gulf Area.The editor-in-chief of the...
and Al-Seyassah
Al-Seyassah
Al-Seyassah is a Kuwaiti daily newspaper published by Dar Al-Seyassah Press Publishing Printing & Distribution Co. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper is Ahmed Al-Jarallah. -History:...
and owner of the weekly magazine Al-Hadaf. Jarallah is known for his criticism of Islamic extremists.
Biography
Jarallah was born in 1942 to a family of Kuwaiti pearl merchants.In 1963, Al-Jarallah started his journalism career in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai Al-Aam, eventually becoming Managing Editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. In 1965, he left the newspaper to join the weekly magazine Al-Seyassah as Editor-in-Chief.
In 1968, he became the owner of Al-Seyassah, which he changed from a weekly magazine to a daily newspaper format. In 1977, Jarallah expanded Al-Seyassah into a media group, which also publishes the English-language Arab Times newspaper and the weekly magazine Al-Hadaf (The Target). The assets of Al-Seyassah have been estimated at more than five million Kuwaiti dinars ($17.25m) in 1977 values, including a printing plant which was at the time the most modern in the region.
On April 23, 1985, Al-Jarallah escaped death when a gunman opened fire on him outside his offices in the Shuwaikh Area. 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 is estimated that Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) was behind the assassination attempt. The CIA reported that Jarallah's published views were "pro-Saudi, pro-egyptian, and critical of Palestinian extremism, the Iranian regime, and Iraq's territorial ambitions in Kuwait"
On 11 December 2003, Al-Jarallah's secretary at Al-Seyassah was injured when he opened a large envelope addressed to Jarallah, sent from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The envelope bomb contained the plastic explosive Semtex
Semtex
Semtex is a general-purpose plastic explosive containing RDX and PETN. It is used in commercial blasting, demolition, and in certain military applications. Semtex became notoriously popular with terrorists because it was, until recently, extremely difficult to detect, as in the case of Pan Am...
. 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 in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, and supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
In 2011, Al-Jarallah received a Challenger 605 business jet from Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
.
Views
In 2004, in an editorial which was described as "breaking long-held taboos", Jarallah called for the Arab world to make peace with IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and for Arab leaders to cease using using the Palestinian people as a tool of their policies.
In 2010, Jarallah called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
to start unconditional negotiations with Israel.
In April 2011, in an interview to Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center ....
News Channel, al-Jarallah accused Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
of inciting a Shiite revolution in the Gulf region, and for "trying to push Gulf nations to the brink of war through escalating disputes and using bullying tactics.”
Books
- Expats guide to Kuwait. 1984. 288 p.
- هكذا عدت من الموت: So I came back from death. 1985. In Arabic.