10.04.2011                      06.Nisan, 5771

Arabien:

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and ‘the Day of Rage’ that wasn’t

Analysis: The last thing Saudi Arabia needs is contagion from the rest of the Arab world.

Even though opposition groups of various stripes had called for a “Day of Rage” last month, the Saudi royal family made sure that it would not happen. Using a combination of tribal connections, an appeal to religious legitimacy, and an overwhelming deployment of force on the streets, the regime let it be known that no protests would be tolerated on March 11. In the end, journalists could find only one protester to talk to – and he was soon hauled-off for questioning.
The local Saudi press – all government- authorized – praised the Saudi people for their loyalty to the leadership. Prince Nayif bin Abd al- Aziz, Minister of the Interior and third in line for the throne, stressed that the Saudi people followed Islam and the religious leadership. The Saudi royal family, he emphasized, wished “to provide means of a decent living for all citizens and mobilize their countries’ resources for this purpose.” Across the board, senior princes weighed in with statements highlighting the connection between the state and the people….