[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
Saudi king aims for new Sunni bloc vs Iran and Islamic State Angus McDowall and Amena Bakr examines King Salman’s efforts to work around regional disagreements over the Muslim Brotherhood to focus on threats from Iran and the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
Who can the Saudis trust when they find themselves on Netanyahu`s side? Robert Fisk examines Saudi Arabia’s fear of Iran’s increasing regional power and reactions to Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the congress last week.
Saudi Arabia Consolidates its Alliance Against Iran Sami Kleib examines King Salman’s strategies to curb Iran’s regional influence.
Saudi Foreign Minister Urges Coalition to Fight ISIS on the Ground Prince Saud al-Faisal calls on the US-led coalition to fight militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria on the ground.
Is Qatar bringing the Nusra Front in from the cold? David Roberts examines the relations between Qatar and Nusra Front.
Recordings Suggest Emirates and Egyptian Military Pushed Ousting of Morsi David Kirkpatrick writes on audio recordings that show the United Arab Emirates helped the Egyptian ministry of defense to oust Morsi.
Egypt got $23 bln in aid from Gulf in 18 months: Minister A news report on the financial aid Egypt received from the Gulf states recently.
US tries to reassure Gulf over nuclear talks with Iran John Kerry asserts that the United States will keep an eye on “destabilizing” acts by Iran during his visit to Riyadh.
`Jihadi John` link deepens security unease in Kuwait Noah Browning examines Kuwaitis’ reaction to reports that the most notorious executer of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria was born in Kuwait.
Saudi Arabia outpaces India to become top defense importer: IHS Saudi Arabia was the biggest weapons importer in 2014.
Facebook rant lands US man in UAE jail The United Arab Emirates arrest a US expat for comments he posted on Facebook while still in the United States.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi king keeps close hand on oil in remodelling strategic team Rania El Gamal and Angus McDowall argue that King Salman’s oil policy aims to give his inner circle a firm hand in the kingdom’s oil strategy.
`This is what Islam tells us to do`: A rare glimpse inside a Saudi Arabian prison – where Isis terrorists are showered with perks and privileges Kevin Sullivan provides an account of the high-security Al-Hair facility, which aims to rehabilitate terrorists.
Blogger lashing: Saudi rejects criticism of Badawi case A news report on Saudi Arabia’s reaction to the international response to the flogging of Raif Badawi.
Saudi Arabia executions now at `unprecedented rate` after kingdom kills four more in two days Adam Withnall reports on the rate of execution in Saudi Arabia.
19-Year-old Gang Rape Victim to Receive 200 Lashes and 6 Months in Jail in Saudi Arabia A news report on a rape victim who is charged with indecency and speaking to the press.
Adopting orphans and breaking taboos in Dubai Amanda Fisher writes on single women in the United Arab Emirates who are increasingly adopting children despite social reservations.
Crisis in Yemen
The child soldiers of Yemen Priyanka Gupta writes on the growing number of young boys recruited by warring factions.
Kidnapped Iranian diplomat held in Yemen since 2013 freed A news report on the release of an Iranian diplomat who was held hostage since 2013.
Yemen`s Houthis seize national dialogue HQ, president insists group must leave Sanaa Mohammed Ghobari provides an update on the political situation in Yemen.
Yemen`s defense minister escapes Houthi-controlled Sanaa The Yemeni minister of defense flees Sanaa and arrives in Aden.
Five dead in Qaeda suicide attack on Houthis in central Yemen Five people die in an al-Qa‘ida suicide attack on a Houthi post in central Yemen.
Human Rights
Saudi Arabia: 10 brutal facts beyond the Raif Badawi case Amnesty International provides a detailed account of Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations.
United Arab Emirates: Stop the charade and release activists convicted at the mass UAE 94 trial The Gulf Center for Human Rigths urges the Emirati authorities to release the UAE 94 activists.
Oman: Serious concerns about use of new citizenship law to target human rights defenders and activists The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the new citizenship law in Oman.
On International Women’s Day, women’s rights defenders at risk in the Gulf and neighbouring countries The Gulf Center for Human Rights reports on the harassment women activists face in the Gulf states.
March Champions for Justice: Bahrain`s Imprisoned Women The Bahrain Center for Human Rights publicizes a march in solidarity with imprisoned women in the Gulf states.
Bahrain NGOs Respond to Statement at HRC28 The Bahrain Center for Human Rights responds to a statement by the Bahraini undersecretary of foreign affairs on reforms in Bahrain at the twenty-eighth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Nabeel Rajab Appeal Postponed to 15 March The Bahrain Center for Human Rights reports on Bahrain’s appeals court to postpone Nabeel Rajab’s appeal decision.
Media
Al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt trial held in `unprecedented legal limbo` Patrick Kingsely reports on Al Jazeera journalists’ legal predicament.
Arabic
البحرين: سلمان يواجه النيابة بـالسلمية
A news report on the trial of Ali Salman, the general secretary of al-Wifaq National Islamic Society.
السعودية: شقيق الشيخ النمر ينفي تأييد حكم الإعدام بحقه
The brother of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr denies reports that a Saudi court upheld his brother’s death sentence.
بن عمر من عدن: تحذير من سيناريو ليبي أو سوري
The United Nations envoy to Yemen warns that Yemen will be mired in a “long-term” conflict if the different factions in the country resort to arms.
هادي يحيي الوصاية السعودية: لحوارٍ في الرياض
Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi urges political powers in Yemen to hold dialogue sessions in Saudi Arabia.
أنصار الله تستعد لمعركة شبوة
Mohanad Ubaid reports on the upcoming confrontations between the Houthis and militants in Shabwa.
اليمن: تعثر الحوار يدفع باتجاه حلول تقسيمية
A news report on the possibility of the split of Yemen if dialogues fail to find a solution to the current political stalemate.
ضغوط متبادلة بين هادي والحوثيين
Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthis exert pressure on each other, with no prospect of compromise between the two in sight.
الحوثيون يسيطرون على أمانة الحوار الوطني
The Houthis seize the headquarters of the national dialogue in Sanaa.
اليمن: هادي يؤسّس لـ «الدولة الاتحادية» من عدن
Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi is establishing a “federal state” from Aden.
«أنصار الله»: لا مجلس رئاسيا ولا «حكومة كفاءات»
Ali Jahiz reflects on the current political scene in Yemen.
وزير الدفاع اليمني يهرب من صنعاء ويصل عدن
The Yemeni minister of defense flees Sanaa and arrives in Aden.
ما قل ودل
A news report on the release of the Saudi consul in Aden, who was kidnapped by al-Qa’ida in Yemen three years ago.
طهران تحرّر أحد دبلوماسييها
Tehran announces the release of an Iranian diplomat in Yemen, who kidnapped by unnamed groups in 2013.
قمة سعودية تركية: دعم المعارضة السورية المعتدلة
A news report on a Saudi-Turkish summit on ways to support the moderate Syrian opposition.
قانون تركي ــ قطري: قوات مشتركة عند الحاجة
Turkey and Qatar are about to reach a military agreement to deploy joint forces in both countries when it is “necessary.”
كيري إلى الرياض لطمأنتها بشأن المفاوضات مع طهران
The US secretary of state John Kerry visits Riyadh to reassure the Saudi king about Washington’s negotiations with Tehran.
كيري لدول الخليج: إيران لن تحلّ مكانكم
John Kerry reassures the Gulf states that Iran will not replace them.
الرياض: طهران و«داعش» أهم من اعتبارات الإخوان
A news report on King Salman’s willingness to compromise on the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood in order to face the threats from Tehran and the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
هل يراهن «داعش» على ليبيا واليمن؟
Abdullah Suleiman Ali reports on the expansion of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria to Yemen and Libya.
قطر تضغط على «النصرة» لفك ارتباطها بالقاعدة
Qatar is exerting pressure on al-Nusra Front to dissociate itself from al-Qa’ida.
العفو الدولية تطالب بالإفراج عن ثلاث نساء قيد الاعتقال السري بالإمارات بسبب تغريدات
Amnesty International deplores the arrest and ill-treatment of three Emirati sisters who tweeted and talked about their jailed brother.