[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 isolation could be a threat to the region Samer Abboud argues that the isolation of Saudi Arabia will be detrimental to reaching a political solution in Syria.
Saudis Back Syrian Rebels Despite Risks Robert Worth argues that the Saudis are providing military and financial support despite their fear of the rise of al-Qaeda’s affiliates in Syria.
Saudis’ Grant to Lebanon Is Seen as Message to U.S. Anne Barnard writes about the ways the Saudi military grant to the Lebanese army is being interpreted.
Bahrain accuses Iran of training rebels Bahrain’s chief prosecutor accuses Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of training opposition fighters and of giving them money.
UAE-Iran islands row: Prove claim or keep quiet, journalist told Habib Toumi reports on the Bahraini foreign minister’s challenge to Hassanain Haykal regarding his allegations about Arab-Iranian negotiations over Bahrain and the UAE islands.
Dubai ruler calls for Iran sanctions to be lifted: BBC Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum says in an interview to the BBC that the international community should lift the sanctions on Iran.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia may restrict foreigners’ stay to eight years A news report on a proposed labor law that would limit the stay of foreign workers to a maximum of eight years.
#DontTouchMe: Saudi Arabia child abuse A news report on reactions in Saudi Arabia to a viral video that shows a child being molested.
Saudi Arabia to flog Egyptian activist on January 25, sister says Ramadan al-Sherbini writes on the statement made by the sister of Ahmed al-Jizawi, a lawyer and human rights activist convicted of smuggling drugs into Saudi Arabia, about an alleged date to flog her brother.
American consultant jailed in UAE over satirical video to be released Joanna Walters reports on the imminent release of Shezanne Cassim, who was arrested months ago after making a spoof video about Emirati society.
Kuwaiti MPs criticise cabinet, urge PM to quit Kuwaiti members of parliament call on the prime minister to resign, describing the new cabinet as “a cocktail that lacks harmony.”
FIFA split over Qatar World Cup dates FIFA Secretary General denies that a decision has been made regarding moving the 2022 World Cup away from summer dates.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain suspends reconciliation talks with opposition groups The Bahraini government officially suspends reconciliation talks after opposition groups failed to show up for a scheduled meeting.
Bahrain Sentences Soccer Player to 10 Years Prison A Bahraini national soccer player is sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of burning a police station.
Crisis in Yemen
North Yemen strife has killed at least 210, Salafis say A news report on the death toll of fights between Houthis and Salafis in Yemen during the last two months.
Shi’ite-Sunni ceasefire takes hold in northern Yemen Mohammed Ghobari reports on the ceasefire between the Huthis and the Salafis in Yemn.
Yemen deploys troops to monitor ceasefire The Yemeni government sends troops to Saada to monitor the ceasefire between the Huthis and Salafis, which a presidential commission brokered last week.
Tribesmen kill soldiers in southern Yemen A news report on the the attack on an army outpost by armed tribesmen in Hadramawt that resulted in the death of four soldiers.
Gunmen shoot dead Yemeni colonel in Aden A news report on attacks on military personnel in the south, including the killing of an army colonel by gunmen and a carbomb that injured a senior intelligence officer in Aden.
Tribes attack Yemen pipeline twice in two days A news report on the second attack on an oil pipeline within two days in Yemen.
Rights groups: Be careful going to the U.S. embassy in Yemen Al Kamen writes on the warning issued by American Civil Liberties Union, advising US citizens of Yemeni origin not to go to the US embassy without a lawyer.
Al Qaeda-linked militants in free South African hostage A South African women held in Taiz since May is released, and mediators are working on the release her husband.
Yemen gunman kills man suspected of being gay A gunman shot a man suspected of being gay in the province of Lahj, brining the number of gay men killed within the last two years to thirty-four.
Media
Al Jazeera Cairo team’s detention extended The three journalists, who were detained in late December, are remanded to fifteen more days in custody.
Journalists demand Egypt free al-Jazeera colleagues More than forty journalists and editors sign a petition urging the release of the three Al Jazeera journalists.
Bahrain releases photojournalist Ahmed Fardan The Bahraini authorities release a photojournalist following a campaign demanding his release.
Human Rights
Letter from prominent human rights defender, and the main founder of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja The Gulf Centre for Human Rights publishes a short letter written by the imprisoned activist on the condition of human rights in the Middle East.
UAE- Authorities target the families of human rights defenders convicted in the UAE 94 case The Gulf Centre for Human Rights condemns the harassment of the families of human rights activists who were tried in the Gulf state.
Arabic