[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
Thaw in US-Iran relations prompts alarm in Gulf states Simeon Kerr analyzes the Gulf states’ anxiety over talks between Washington and Tehran.
Two old foes unite against Tehran Uzi Mahnaimi writes on the cooperation of Saudi and Israeli intelligence agencies on plans for a possible attack on Iran.
The stakes of an Iranian deal David Ignatius analyzes the efforts of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and France to undermine the US-Iranian rapprochement.
How damaged are US-Saudi ties? Robert Kennedy discusses the history of Saudi-US relations, and argues that the recent fissure does not pose a serious threat to the “special relationship” between the two allies.
Background of the Saudi-Israeli Alliance As’ad AbuKhalil argues that the cooperation between the Saudi government and Israel is not a recent development but dates back to King Abdul-Aziz’s support of the Zionist movement.
The Mad Kingdom: Saudi Raises the Stakes Ibrahim al-Amin examines the role of head of the Saudi intelligence agency Prince Bandar bin Sultan in the fighting in Syria through providing rebels with weapons and building an army of thirty-thousand fighters.
Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s Gatsby, Master Spy Christopher Dickey examines the Saudi statesman’s political trajectory and his role in regional politics, in particular the fighting in Syria and the undermining of Iranian influence.
Expert: About 600 Saudi fighters are in Syria An interview with Faris Bin Hizam, who believes many Saudis are fighting in Syria against the regime.
Saudi rejects U.N. Security Council seat, opening way for Jordan Michelle Nicholas reports on Saudi Arabia’s official rejection of the non-permanent seat on the Security Council and the likely selection of Jordan as a replacement.
China, Saudi Arabia win UN human rights seats The United Nations General Assembly elects new members to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, including Saudi Arabia.
Qatar loses clout amid fading Arab Spring Abigail Hauslohner examines the dwindling Qatari role in the region.
Reports and Opinions
The Gulf and sectarianism Fatima Ayub discusses how governments in the region promote and exploit sectarianism for strategic purposes.
Rare flooding fills roads in Saudi capital A news report on severe flooding in Riyadh and heavy rainfall in other parts of the kingdom.
Heavy rains hit parts of the UAE Aftab Kazmi reports on the heavy rains that hit parts of the Gulf state two days ago.
Qatar to make military service compulsory for 4 months A news report on a draft law making military service compulsory for men aged between eighteen to thirty-five.
Crisis in Yemen
Enemies put differences aside in a bid to lay foundations for a new Yemen Francois-Xavier Tregan provides a positive account of the national dialogue conference in Yemen.
Three killed in shelling in troubled north Yemen town, Salafis say A Salafi group accuses Houthi fighters of bombing a school in Dammaj and killing three people.
Al Qaeda in Yemen vows revenge for Shi’ite rebel attack on Salafis Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula pledges revenge after Houthi rebels attacked a Salafi school in Dammaj.
Migrant Workers
Anger in Yemen over Saudi deportations A news report on the recent deportation of sixty thousand Yemeni workers from Yemen.
23,000 Ethiopians surrender in Saudi Arabia A news report on thousands of Ethiopians who handed themselves in to the Saudi authorities following clashes between them and the police in Riyadh ten days ago.
Saudi riots: Man killed as attacks leave trail of destruction Habib Toumi writes on fresh clashes between the police and Ethiopian workers last week.
French footballer trapped in Qatar asks Guardiola and Zidane for help Owen Gibson reports on Zahir Belounis who cannot leave Qatar because of controversial Qatari labor laws.
Qatar construction worker: ‘This company doesn’t consider a human being a human being’ A Nepalese worker shares his experience of working in Qatar.
Amnesty International: Qatar failing to enforce its own labor laws Peter Moskowitz writes on the human rights group’s criticism of Qatar for failing to protect migrant workers’ rights.
Amnesty International
Qatar: End corporate exploitation of migrant construction workers The organization provides a harsh critique of the Qatari authorities and construction companies for the rampant abuses of migrant workers building the 2022 World Cup stadiums.
Qatar: The Dark Side of Migration: Spotlight on Qatar’s Construction Sector ahead of the World Cup The official report released by the organization, which documents the work conditions of migrant workers in the Gulf state.
Exploited and struggling to survive in Qatar The story of Rahul, an Indian migrant worker, sheds light on the daily lives of migrant workers in Qatar.
Business and Markets
Gulf carriers’ 15 minutes of jet order hysteria Praveen Menon and Tim Hepher describe the opening day of the Dubai Airshow, when Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways ordered two hundreds of Boeing’s 777 jet in fifteen minutes.
Saudis feel the pinch following labour crackdowns A news report on the impact of the crackdowns on illegal migrant workers on small businesses.
Saudi Arabia and its labourers: Go home, but who will replace you? An article on the difficulties of replacing migrant workers in Saudi Arabia following their exodus in the last few weeks.
Arabic
البحرين | الشرطة تقمع وتعتقل أفراداً خلال تحركات شعبية
The Bahraini police disperses hundreds of demonstrators in Manama.
البحرين ترفض رفع حظر السفر عن القيادي المعارض خليل مرزوق
The Bahraini government refuses to lift the travel ban on activist Khalil Marzoup.
اليمن: السجن لمهربي أسلحة من إيران
A Yemeni court sentences nine people accused of smuggling weapons into Yemen from Iran for ten years.
اليمن: هادي يتجه شرقا لتعزيز نظامه الجديد
Khalid al-Hamadi reports on the Yemeni president`s visit to China to benefit from its capabilities in construction, following the dwindling of development support from Western countries.
الميثولوجيا السياسية في اليمن
Fouad al-Salahi argues that political dialogue in Yemen is riddled with puzzles and mysteries.
مقتل سوداني في الرياض
The Saudi police announces the death of one Ethiopian migrant worker during clashes between the police and Ethiopian workers in Riyadh last week.
تحولات العلاقة بين السياسي والديني في السعودية
Madawi al-Rasheed analyzes changing relations between the political and religious branches in Saudi Arabia.
`القدس العربي` تكشف قصة العداء بين الامير بندر بن سلطان وادارة الرئيس اوباما: مكالمة من بوتين للعاهل السعودي غيرت موقف الرياض من جنيف 2
Al-Quds al-Arabi reveals details of the rift between the US administration and Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the head of the Saudi intelligence agency.
بهدوء | لماذا تخشى عمان الافتراق عن الرياض؟ الحرب السعودية مستمرة، والرد السوري: "سنحسمها"
Nahid Hattir examines the Saudi involvement in Syria and Jordan`s efforts to break away from Saudi policies in the region.
العلاقات الأردنية - السعودية: الأمير بندر يبحث عن `قصر` في عمان والدعم المالي يتأثر بتجاذبات الأمراء
Bassam al-Bidareen examines Saudi-Jordanian relations and Prince Bandar bin Sultan`s intention to buy a palace in Amman.
السعودية بحثت مع سليمان التجديد بدل التمديد
Nassir Sharara writes on the Lebanese president`s visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss the question of renewing the term of his presidency.
سيول في السعودية تعطل الحياة العامة
A news reports on heavy rains in Saudi Arabia last week, which shut down schools and universities and disrupted life in the kingdom.