Kul al-Arab (Arabic: كل العرب, meaning All of the Arabs) is an Israeli Arabic-language weekly newspaper, founded in 1987.[1] Based in Nazareth, the paper is Israel's most influential and widely read Arabic-language periodical.[2][3] It is also distributed in the West Bank.[2]Kul al-Arab has 70 employees and a circulation of 38,000.[1] According to the BBC the paper "is known primarily as a Christian paper" but "is trying to expand its Muslim audience."[2] Most of the paper's revenue comes from advertising, and it is sometimes given away for free as a result.[2] For some time the paper was edited by the poet Samih al-Qasim, who remains its honorary editor.[1][4][5][6]
In 2005, the BBC stated that the paper "is scathing of Israeli and US policies, but can be equally critical of the Palestinian Authority."[2] It has referred to terrorists and suicide bombers as "Martyrs".[7]
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."[1] 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.[1]
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.[1][8]Kul al-Arab also sponsors an annual Israeli Arab beauty contest with a $10,000 prize.[9][10]
