[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Saudis overtaking Qatar in sponsoring Syrian rebels Hassan Hassan examines the implications of a visit by a delegation of Syrian opposition members to Qatar, in The National.
Yemenis reel from Saudi labour crackdown A news report on how an impending law targeting illegal foreign workers in Saudi Arabia will impact Yemeni workers, in Al Jazeera English.
Hunger strike, Yemeni dilemma could spur Guantanamo closure plans Carol J. Williams examines the pressure that the Yemeni government is exerting on the United States to release its citizens from Guantanamo, in Los Angeles Times.
Eric Holder hints Yemenis held at Guantanamo may be released Ewen MacAskill reports on the US attorney general’s comment on the possible release of a number of Yemenis detained in Guantanamo, in The Guardian.
Saudi’s Faisal Warms up to Iran… Conceding Nothing Elie Chalhoub argues that the meeting between the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers to discuss a Syrian settlement did not reach any meaningful solution, on Al-Akhbar English.
Qatar bankrolls Syrian revolt with cash and arms Roula Khalaf and Abigail Fielding Smith argue that Qatar has spent approximately three billion dollars over the past two years supporting the rebels in Syria, in Financial Times.
Saudi princes fail in attempt to keep court documents secret from media Owen Bowcott writes on the failure of former defense minister Prince Mishal and his son Prince Abdulaziz to prevent the release of sealed court documents detailing a commercial dispute, in The Guardian.
UK approved £112m of arms exports to Saudi Arabia last year Nick Hopkins dwells on the United Kingdom’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the last four years, totaling four billion pounds, in The Guardian.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi dies after setting himself on fire in protest A Saudi man kills himself in protest of his treatment by the police after he failed to present his identification card, on BBC.
Hackers target Saudi government websites A news report on international cyber attacks on Saudi government websites, on Al Jazeera English.
Saudi woman makes history by reaching Everest summit A news report on Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi woman to reach the top of Mount Everest, in an attempt to raise money for education in Nepal, on BBC.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain sentences Twitter users to prison A news report on the sentencing of six Bahrainis to one year in prison for insulting the king on Twitter, on Al Jazeera English.
Prince Charles criticised over Bahrain housing deal Robert Booth writes on the uproar caused by the agreement signed by the British crown prince’s architecture charity to advise Bahrain on a home development, in The Guardian.
Bahrain’s rights, Britain’s failure Nicholas McGeehan critiques the British embassy in Manama for posting two articles on its website denigrating human rights groups in the country and justifying the repressive measures adopted by the regime, on Open Democracy.
Crisis in Yemen
‘US drone’ kills four in strike on al-Qaida target in Yemen A news report on the latest drone strike targeting militants near Aden, in The Guardian.
Kidnapped Red Cross workers released in Yemen A news report on the release of three Red Cross personnel who were kidnapped last week, on Al Jazeera English.
Updated: No one should be above the law! A blog entry on how armed men accompanying a wedding procession shot to death two young Yemeni men, on Women from Yemen.
Human Rights Watch
Kuwait: Draft Law Threatens Free Speech Human Rights Watch calls upon the Kuwaiti government to amend a proposed new media law that increases state control of the media.
Bahrain: Detained Activists Allege Torture A Human Rights Watch report expressing concerns over allegations of torture.
Markets and Business
Qatar buys into Milan Porta Nuova property project Rachel Sanderson reports on Qatar’s acquisition of a high-end real estate development in Italy, in Financial Times.
Court papers chart breakdown of Saudi princes’ relations with business partner Owen Bowcott and Ian Black argue that previously suppressed UK court papers illuminate how Prince Mishal and Prince Abdulaziz conducted business in the United Kingdom, in The Guardian.
Revealed: Stunning new images show gold-plated, ultra luxurious Riyadh metro station that Saudi king has ordered to be built John Hall writes on King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station, designed by the prominent Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, in The Independent.
Migrant Workers
Kuwait deports more than 1,000 foreigners over traffic violations A news report on the deportation of hundreds of foreign residents for traffic offenses over the past month, on Al-Akhbar English.
Dubai workers hold rare strike for more wages A news report on thousands of laborers, who work for the largest construction company in the emirate, going on strike for a second day in a row, on Al Jazeera English.
Media
Kuwait delays media law after editors raise press freedom concerns Roy Greenslade blogs on the Kuwaiti government’s decision to delay the enactment of a new media law, in The Guardian.
Al Jazeera management orders Joseph Massad article pulled in act of pro-Israel censorship Ali Abunimah blogs on the deletion of Joseph Massad’s “The Last of the Semites” from Al Jazeera English website, on electronicintifada.
Culture and Art
Haifaa al-Mansour, a woman’s voice from Arabia Islah Bakhat interviews the Saudi director, whose film Wadjda has received international acclaim.
Arabic
الكويت: استقالات جماعية للوزراء احتجاجاً على استجواب نيابي
A news report on Kuwaiti ministers` mass resignations in protest of the government`s intention to interrogate the ministers of oil and interior.
البحرين: اقتحام وتخريب منزل رجل الدين عيسى قاسم
A news report on Bahraini police`s raid on the house of Sheikh Issa Qasim, who is seen as the religious authority of Al-Wifaq National Islamic Society.
محكمة بحرينية تسجن خمسة أشخاص بتهمة إهانة الملك على `توتير`
A news report on a one-year jail sentence of five Bahrainis for insulting the king on twitter.
إعلاميو البحرين تحت أعين السلطة: أحمد حميدان.. قصة مصور معتقل
A news report on the Bahraini journalistic photographer Ahmed Hmaidan, who was arrested at the beginning of the year on charges of attacking security personnel and a police station.
اليمن: مسلسل سقوط الطائرات العسكرية يثير تساؤلات عن حملة منظمة لتدمير القوات الجوية انتقاما منها لوقوفها إلى جانب الثورة
Khalid al-Hamadi writes on the frequent crashes of military airplanes and the speculation that they are meant as a means to punish the air forces for supporting the revolution.
السعودية تحكم قبضتها في المنطقة الشرقية: اعتقالات ومحاكمات.. و"النمر" يواجه الإعدام
A news report on the continued harassment of activists and opposition figures in Saudi Arabia`s Eastern Province, and the beginning of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr`s trial.
حقوق الإنسان السعودية تناقش وضع `التركي` ومعتقلي جوانتانامو
A news report on a meeting between the Saudi National Committee for Human Rights and the deputy assistant secretary of state to discuss the conditions of a Saudi national imprisoned in the United States as well as Saudi prisoners in Guantanamo.
القاهرة تقترح على الرياض ربط مصر بالسعودية بعبارات برمائية سريعة
A news report on Cairo`s proposal to link Egypt and Saudi Arabia via submarine liners until the construction of a bridge between the two countries.
وزير التنمية المصري يبحث في الرياض الجسر البري مع السعودية
A news report on the Egyptian minister of development`s visit to Saudi Arabia in order to discuss different issues, including the construction of a bridge between the two countries.
المفاوضات تتراجع والمناورات في الخليج تتسارع
An editorial on the recent naval exercises in the Gulf and the failure of the negotiations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
توكل كرمان لمجلة ألمانية: اليمن يستطيع التغلب على الإرهاب بمفرده
Tawakkol Karman, the Nobel Peace Laureate, asserts that Yemen can defeat terrorism on its own.
قطر وإسرائيل: تعاون تجاري - تكنولوجي
Hilmi Musa writes on the commercial-technological cooperation between Qatar and Israel.