[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
Hezbollah blames Saudi for embassy attack The Secretary General of Hezbollah accuses Saudi Arabia of being behind the twin attacks on the Iranian embassy in Beirut two weeks ago.
Bibi and Bandar Badger Obama Franklin Lamb writes about what he calls the “Saudi-Israel-Arab League collaboration” and the pressure it is exerting on Washington to fund the Syrian rebels.
Lines of the Game: Protecting Saudi From Israel Sami Kleib argues that Arab countries need to protect Saudi Arabia from the influence of Israel.
Mass murder in the Middle East is funded by our friends the Saudis Patrick Cockburn provides scathing criticism of US, British, and European governments for their silence on the financial support that al-Qaeda and different Jihadist movements receive from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Saudi call for Gulf Arab union faces hurdles at summit Rania El Gamal argues that differences over Egypt, Syria, and Iran mean that the Gulf monarchs do not speak with one voice.
Iran, Saudi strategists spar, swap ideas, over Gulf security William MacLean and Yara Bayoumy report on the speeches of delegates from Iran and the Gulf states during the Manama Dialogue—a security forum held in Bahrain.
Chuck Hagel reassures Gulf nations Iran deal with not stop flow of US arms The US defense secretary attends the Manama Dialogue and assures Gulf regimes that the nuclear deal with Iran will not affect arms sale to them.
Reports and Opinions
Protesters cleared over storming of Kuwaiti parliament Seventy Kuwaiti opposition figures, including nine former members of parliament, are cleared of charges of attempting to storm the parliament in 2011.
Tourist visas to be introduced The Saudi regime decides to start issuing tourist visas for foreigners interested in visiting historical sites.
From the archive, 3 December 1971: Editorial: The birth of the United Arab EmiratesThe Guardian republishes the 1971 editorial to mark the forty-second anniversary of the independence of the Gulf state.
Saudi Arabia beheads Pakistani man over drugs A news report on the most recent beheading in the kingdom.
Crisis in Yemen
The US killed my brother with a drone. I want to know why Mohammed Al Qawli argues that US citizens must exert pressure on their government to end drone strikes on innocent people.
Al Qaeda thrives in Yemen amid weak security, stalled dialogue Yara Bayoumy analyzes the increase of attacks launched by al-Qaeda in Yemen.
Violence in Yemen: Who is to blame An article on the factors behind the resurgence of violence in Yemen.
Gunmen kill two senior officers in Yemen: security source A news report on the assassination of two high-ranking officers in the Yemeni army.
Deadly attacks hit Yemen defence ministry in Sanaa A news report on a series of attacks on the Yemeni ministry of defense, which left fifty-two people dead.
Al-Qaeda claims attack on Yemen defence ministry Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claims responsibility for the attacks on the ministry of defense.
Yemeni residents of Sanaa’s Old City shaken by rare attack Peter Salisbury describes the scene at Bab al-Yemen following the attack on the ministry of defense.
Yemen says regains ministry compound, 12 militants killed Mohammed Ghobari reports on a statement issued by the Yemeni government with regard to its control of the ministry of defense.
Yemen’s response to brazen attacks inadequate Sevag Kechichian argues that the Yemeni authorities need to have a transparent investigation into the attacks on the ministry of defense.
Yemen’s presidential adviser survives attack Yassin Said Noman escapes an assassination attempt.
Migrant Workers
Saudis expel 100,000 Ethiopians The kingdom deports thousands of Ethiopian workers following the crackdown on migrant workers.
Culture
The 10 best films of 2013, No 10 – Wadjda Henry Barnes writes on the ten best films this year, choosing the Saudi film as one of them.
Media
Jailed Yemeni journalist receives Human Rights Defenders award Martin Chulov writes about Abduelah Haider Shaye, who chronicled US drone strikes in Yemen and is accused of terrorism by Washington.
Lebanon: Hezbollah Media Apologize to Bahrain Regime Noureddine Baltayeb, Zakia Dirani, and Bassem Alhakim blast the apology that Hezbollah's al-Manar TV extended to the Bahraini regime for its previous coverage of the Bahraini uprising.
Lebanon: Those Responsible for Bahrain Apology Must Resign Ibrahim al-Amin maintains that those at al-Manar TV who issued the apology to the Bahraini regime should be held accountable for their actions.
Human Rights
Dispatches: UAE – Yes to Film Festivals, No to Free Expression Nicholas McGeehan, from Human Rights Watch, writes about the Gulf state, which is organizing an international film festival but keeping five directors in jail.
Kuwait – Travel ban on human rights defender Rana al-Saadoun The Gulf Center for Human Rights condemns the Kuwaiti authorities’ decision to ban al-Saddoun from traveling.
Yemen –Targeting of human rights defenders and journalists continues The Gulf Center for Human Rights expresses its concerns over the targeting of journalists and activists in Yemen.
Arabic