[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
Egypt says prepared to repay Qatari loan in days if necessary An official in Egypt’s central bank asserts that Egypt can immediately repay the two-billion-dollar loan that Qatar deposited in the bank.
Working Together Separately Adam Shatz analyzes the close ties between the Gulf states and Israel in the last twenty years.
Kuwait emir to visit While House September 13 to discuss Middle East A news report on the Kuwaiti ruler’s visit to the United States this week.
5 Saudi Al Qaida members on trial in Yemen A news report on the beginning of the trial of five Saudis accused of belong to al-Qaeda and of plotting attacks in Yemen.
Saudi diplomat kidnapped in Yemen asks family to stage protests Abdullah al-Khalidi, who has been kidnapped for eighteen months in Yemen, asks his family to organize protests to urge the government to meet al-Qaeda demands for his release.
Saudi-Egyptian Relations: Fault Lines of a Future Conflict Ibrahim Alloush examines the relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Arab Gulf ministers to weigh measures against Syria A news report on the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf states in Jeddah today to discuss measures against Syria.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia: The devil in the details Hala al-Dosari analyzes the significance of the new law against domestic abuse, and the challenges of its application.
Saudi police deny report of young man killed in security raid The police denies any role in the death of a young man in a house raid in the Eastern Province.
Man wanted over protests surrenders, say police Hassan bin Jaafar bin Hassan, wanted in connection with protests in Qatif in March 2011, surrenders to the police.
“Bandar ibn Israel” Sharmine Narwani examines the role of Prince Bandar bin Sultan, head of the Saudi intelligence agency, in Syria and the broader region.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahraini opposition criticizes decision to set up rights court in Manama Al-Wifaq movement deplores the decision of the Arab League to establish a pan-Arab human rights court in the Bahraini capital.
Bahrain opposition boycott thwarts dialogue session Habib Toumi examines the implication of the Bahraini opposition’s decision to boycott a scheduled round of the national dialogue.
Report: The Recommendations of the Bahraini National Assembly Restrain Liberties The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights criticizes the twenty-two recommendations related to the political situation in Bahrain made by the National Assembly.
Crisis in Yemen
Gunmen kill two intelligence officers in Yemen Saeed Al Batali reports on the assassination of two officers in the province of Hadramawt by al-Qaeda suspects.
Drone strikes in Yemen are an obstacle to democracy Baraa Shiban argues that the death of civilians in drone strikes reflect an indifference to the rule of law by both the Yemeni and US leaders.
Forty-two killed in 10 days of Yemen clashes A news report on clashes between Islamist extremists and Houthi rebels in the last ten days, which left forty-two people dead.
Yemen – The Death of human rights defender Ibrahim Mothana The Gulf Center for Human Rights expresses its sadness for the loss of the young activist, who died at home suddenly.
Human Rights Watch
Saudi Arabia: New Law to Criminalize Domestic Abuse The organization commends Saudi Arabia for passing a new law that criminalizes domestic abuse in the kingdom.
UN Human Rights Council: HRW Reaction to the High Commissioner’s Update on Egypt, Sri Lanka and Bahrain The Higher Commissioner expresses deep concerns over the deteriorating human rights climate in Bahrain.
Media
Oman to take legal action against The Week Sunil Vaidya writes on the decision by the Omani Ministry of Information to sue the weekly tabloid after publishing an article on homosexuality among Omanis.
Culture
Wajda: Film by first female Saudi director wins critical acclaim at Venice Film Festival A film review of Haifaa al-Mansour’s Wajda.
Health
Saudi and Qatar report more MERS virus deaths A news report on recent deaths from the virus in the two Gulf states, bringing the number of fatalities globally to fifty.
H5N1: A memo to the Saudi Minister of Health A blog post criticizing Saudi health officials and government personnel for the lack of transparency and honesty in reporting the MERS virus outbreak.
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