Kul al-Arab


Kul al-Arab is an Israeli Arabic-language weekly newspaper, founded in 1987. Based in Nazareth, the paper is Israel's most influential and widely read Arabic-language periodical. It is also distributed in the West Bank. Kul al-Arab has 70 employees and a circulation of 38,000. According to the BBC the paper "is known primarily as a Christian paper" but "is trying to expand its Muslim audience." Most of the paper's revenue comes from advertising, and it is sometimes given away for free as a result. For some time the paper was edited by the poet Samih al-Qasim, who remains its honorary editor.
In 2005, the BBC stated that the paper "is scathing of Israeli and US policies, but can be equally critical of the Palestinian Authority." Co-owner Fayez al-Shtiwi summarizes its editorial stance: "We oppose terrorist attacks, but also oppose the occupation, the discrimination and the denial of human rights. We want social justice and want to see proud Arabs here, with equal rights, not the defeated Arab."
The paper was founded by an advertising agency, al-Bustenai, then-managed by Mussa Hassadiya. As of 2008 Hassadiya owns 40% of the paper, with the rest owned by Fayez and "a group of Israeli-Arab businessmen." For a time Yedioth Ahronoth Group and Legal Tender Initiative each owned 25% of the paper, with Hassadiya and Shtiwi owning the other half. However, the two groups came into conflict, resulting in a court case in 2006 and Yediot and Legal Tender being bought out two years later.
The paper's publishing company also owns a women's magazine, Lady Kul al-Arab, and a website, al-Arab, which is visited by 45,000 people per day. Kul al-Arab also sponsors an annual Israeli Arab beauty contest with a $10,000 prize.