[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
US hostage Casey Coombs released in Yemen and flown to Oman The Houthis release one of the four US citizens held by them in Yemen.
In very rare public meet, Israeli, Saudi officials name Iran as common foe A news report on a public meeting between high-ranking Israeli and Saudi representatives in Washington.
Israel’s Clandestine Alliance with Gulf Arab States is Going Public Murtaza Hussain examines the implications of the public meeting between Israeli and Saudi officials.
How Saudi Arabia’s 79-year-old King Salman is shaking up the Middle East Brian Murphy and Erin Cunningham assess King Salman’s regional policies.
Prince Charles: arms dealer by royal appointment to Middle East tyrants Heathcote Williams criticizes Prince Charles’ role in facilitating arms deals with the Gulf states.
Oil price falls as Saudi Arabia pushes Opec cartel to hold production levels Terry Macalister reports on the role of Saudi Arabia in the fall in oil prices.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi court upholds blogger`s 10 years and 1,000 lashes A Saudi supreme court upholds Raif Badawi’s sentence of one thousand lashes and ten-year imprisonment.
The Guardian view on the flogging of Raif Badawi: Saudi Arabia is in the dock An editorial in the Guardian on the Saudi supreme court’s decision to uphold Badawi’s sentence.
`Russia & Qatar may lose World Cups` - Fifa official A news report on the likelihood that Russia and Qatar may lose the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Qatar`s World Cup officials put on brave face for post-Blatter era Ian Black writes on Qatari officials’ efforts to deal with threats of losing the 2022 World Cup bid.
Report: Germany bought Saudi Arabia`s support in 2006 World Cup with RPGs A news report on an arms shipment that was delivered by Germany to Saudi Arabia in exchange for the Saudi vote for the former’s bid to host 2006 World Cup.
Crisis in Yemen
Saudi-led naval blockade leaves 20m Yemenis facing humanitarian disaster Aid agencies assert that the blockade imposed by the US- and UK-backed Saudi coalition has left eighty percent of the population in dire need of food and water supplies.
Saudi Arabia says Houthi border offensive repelled The Saudi army repulsed an offensive by fighters allied to the Houthis and Ali Abdullah Saleh on Jizan.
Yemen crisis: Saudi Arabia `shoots down` Scud missile Saudi Arabia says that it shot down a Scud missile fired from across the borders by the Houthis.
‘Engineering Marvel’ of Queen of Sheba’s City Damaged in Airstrike The ancient Dam of Marib was damaged in a Saudi airstrike.
The world may be ignoring the destruction of cultural treasures in Yemen Adam Taylor reports on the destruction of cultural artifacts in airstrikes in Yemen.
Yemen: Saudi Airstrikes kill 58, including dozens of Women and Children At least fifty-eight Yemenis died in Saudi-led airstrikes last week.
Yemen crisis: Saudi Arabia air strikes kill 44 in Sanaa At least forty-four people died in a Saudi airstrike on the Yemeni army headquarters in Sanaa.
Yemen government ground forces and Saudi-led air strikes attack Houthi militias – video Video footage of ground and air attacks on the Houthis.
Yemen crisis: UN peace talks to be held next weekend United Nations-sanctioned peace talks regarding the crisis in Yemen will be held in Geneva this weekend.
Yemen conflict: doctors warn of crisis as medical supplies run low Hospital and aid workers warn of a humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Human Rights
Dispatches: Qatar 2022 – Where Did It Go Wrong? Human Rights Watch`s Stephanie Hancock provides an account of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.
June Champions for Justice: The Prisoners of Jau The Bahrain Center for Human Rights reports on the conditions inside the notorious Jau prison in Bahrain.
Arabic
المهمة الجديدة لعادل الجبير
Ali Razq argues that the choice of Adel al-Jubair as Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister reflects Riyadh’s need to find a figure that “knows Washington from the inside.”
سفير سعودي في بغداد بعد 24 عاماً من القطيعة
Saudi Arabia sends an ambassador to Baghdad for the first time in twenty-four years.
صندوق النقد: السعودية ستسجل عجزاً ضخماً
The Monetary Fund expects that Saudi Arabia will sustain a huge budget deficit due to the drop in oil prices.
ظريف يدعو السعودية إلى التخلي عن وهمها بإقصاء إيران
The Iranian foreign minister asks Saudi Arabia to give up on its plan to curtail Iran’s regional role.
إجبار طائرات سعودية على الانسحاب من الأجواء العراقية
Iraqi defense forces oblige Saudi airplanes to leave Iraqi air.
السعودية وإسرائيل: التقاء حول «العدو» الإيراني
A news report on secret meetings between Israeli and Saudi representatives to discuss the Iranian threat.
السجن عشر سنوات والجلد ألف مرة للمدون السعودي رائف البدوي
The Saudi supreme court upholds Raef al-Badawi’s imprisonment and flogging sentences.
المنطقة الشرقية تصفع بن نايف: البطولة للشهداء
Mariam Abdullah writes on voluntary popular committees organized by the residents in Qatif and Dammam to foil attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
اليمن: محادثات جنيف.. من دون هدنة
A news report on peace talks to be held in Geneva this weekend.
الأطراف اليمنية توافق على إجراء محادثات سلام في جنيف
Different Yemeni factions, including members of the government in exile and the Houthis, agree to attend the peace talks in Geneva.
الوقائع الكاملة لمفاوضات مسقط
Ibrahim al-Amin reports on the talks in Muscat between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and its allies.
عشرات الشهداء بقصف للعدوان السعودي على حي سكني في صنعاء
At least forty-four people died in a Saudi airstrike on the Yemeni army headquarters in Sanaa.