[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
Gulf war trauma kicked off Japan's retreat from pacifism Japan’s experience on the sidelines of the 1990-91 Gulf War helped to trigger the country’s gradual abandonment of pacifist foreign policy.
Oil price falls to 11-year low Oil prices for Brent crude have reached a low $36.05, which has not been seen since 2004.
Gunmen kidnap group of Qatari hunters from camp in Iraq, police say Approximately one hundred Qatari hunters were kidnapped in Iraq near the country’s border with Saudi Arabia.
Qatari sheikh accused of running hotel while claiming diplomatic immunity Former Qatari Prime Minister Hamid bin Jassim al-Thani faces accusations that he operated a hotel in London while benefiting from diplomatic immunity.
Oman rail phase two approved A royal decree in Oman approved construction and acquisition of land for phase two of the country’s national railroad.
Saudi Arabia said to mull selling states in state-owned firms Saudi Arabia is considering the privatization of state-owned enterprises, including ports, state-owned utilities, and railways.
Largest Commercial Bank of Kuwait shareholder given nod to raise stake Al-Sharq, the largest shareholder of Commercial Bank of Kuwait, was given regulatory permission to boost its stake from twenty-three to twenty-nine percent.
Brother of 2007 Glasgow bomber ‘attended meetings in Saudi Arabia to recruit youth’ A man recently deported from Saudi Arabia to India is thought to have collaborated with the 2007 attack on Glasgow Airport in Scotland.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince announces military alliance to fight terrorism – video Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman holds a press conference to announce an anti-terrorism coalition.
Britain's relationship with Gulf states needs updatingThe Independent argues that the UK government has established close relations with the Gulf states in spite of the latter’s human rights record.
Reports and Opinions
Is Saudi Arabia’s anti-terrorist alliance real? Oliver Miles discusses Saudi Arabia’s new coalition against the Islamic State.
Doubts about Saudi Arabia's antiterrorism coalition The New York Times expresses skepticism over Saudi Arabia’s proposed antiterrorism coalition.
The Guardian view on fighting Isis: the opening of a Saudi frontThe Guardian analyzes the Saudi-led coalition intended to oppose groups such as Islamic State.
Western troops can't stop ISIS. And Saudi Arabia's won't stop ISIS. Shikha Dalmia argues that while Western countries cannot defeat IS, nations in the Middle East are unwilling to do so.
Oil Prices Have Hit An 11-Year Low, And That's Exactly What Saudi Arabia Wants Ben Walsh argues that Saudi Arabia actually wants lower oil prices.
Conference to create awareness on franchise concept in Oman The first annual Oman Franchise & Expo Conference (OFEC) aims to promote franchising to potential Omani franchisees from companies outside the country.
Dispute over Saudi-Kuwaiti oilfield nears resolution Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are reportedly close to a resolution of their dispute over production in the Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone.
Oman franchise expo conference to widen horizons for entrepreneurs The first annual Oman Franchise & Expo Conference (OFEC) will be held May 9-11, 2016.
Human Rights
Saudi conviction of poet for renouncing Islam seriously flawed, lawyer argues The lawyer for poet Ashraf Fayadh argues that there are serious flaws in his client’s apostasy conviction and death sentence in Saudi Arabia.
Family of teenage Saudi protester sentenced to death appeal for his life The family of Abdullah al-Zaher has called for his death sentence to be overturned. Al-Zaher was arrested after participating in a rally in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi arms sales: Court threat by campaign group The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) is threatening legal action against the British government over arms sales to countries fighting in Yemen.
It's Easy To Blame Kuwait Airways For Discrimination Against Israelis -- But It's Wrong Martin Rivers argues that it is wrong to blame Kuwait Airways for prohibiting Israelis from flying on its aircraft.
Exclusive: In favoring Middle East ally, U.S. glossed over human rights record The US Department of State agreed to censor criticism of Oman’s human rights record in return for its help in talks with Iran.
United States said to u-turn over Oman human rights rebuke The United States reportedly backed off of criticism regarding the human rights record of Oman, a key ally with close relations with Iran.
Saudi Arabia 'jails reformist writer Zuhair Kotbi' Saudi Arabia has sentenced reformist Zuhair Kutbi to four years in prison following a television appearance in the summer calling for a constitutional monarchy.
Kuwait rejects amnesty criticism of human rights record Kuwait has criticized an Amnesty International report that cited the country for human rights violations.
Kuwait warns of crackdown on ‘wild’ New Year parties Kuwait has announced that authorities will not tolerate illegal celebrations of the New Year, including parties with tents that have mixed genders.
This is what justice looks like in Saudi Arabia The New Republic discusses the case of a woman from Sri Lanka who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia.
British businessman detained for ‘Twitter abuse' in Dubai A British businessman has been jailed in Dubai over comments that he made on Twitter.
Crisis in Yemen
UN-sponsored Yemen peace talks start in Switzerland Talks between the government and Houthi rebels began in Switzerland under the sponsorship of the United Nations.
Yemen court spares life of American Sharif Mobley A court in Yemen has sentenced Sharif Mobley—an American citizen—to ten years in prison after rejecting the death penalty.
Saudi intercepts missile from Yemen The Saudi military successfully intercepted a missile that was fired from Yemen, in what officials said was a ceasefire violation.
Witness: A Wedding Bombed in Yemen Human Rights Watch publishes eyewitness reports of a Yemeni wedding that the Saudi-led coalition bombed in October.
Saudi officials fear collapse of Yemen ceasefire Saudi Arabian officials expressed fears that the Yemeni ceasefire would not hold after both sides accused the other of breaching it.
Yemen peace talks reach deal on aid for flashpoint city Taez The Yemeni government and Houthi rebels agreed to restore humanitarian aid to the city of Taez (also transliterated as Ta‘iz).
Yemen peace deal elusive but rivals vow to meet again A peace agreement to end the conflict in Yemen was not reached in the discussions in Switzerland, but both sides pledged to continue the talks.
Houthi rebels' attack rocks prospects for Yemen peace talks Houthi rebels launched an attack that occurred less than a day before the parties were scheduled to meet in Switzerland to discuss the prospects for a peace agreement.
Yemen ceasefire gets extended with conditions The two sides in the Yemeni conflict agreed to hold another meeting in Switzerland on 14 January, and agreed to a weeklong extension of the ceasefire.
Yemen: Coalition bombs homes in capital Human Rights Watch reports that a total of six airstrikes targeted residential areas of Sanaa in September and October 2015.