A blockade that has the Arab world on tenterhooks

THE blockade of Qatar by five Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia, is yet another example of the fragility and, perhaps, futility, of a Middle East concordat. Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and the UAE have followed the Saudis in demanding Qatar change its "evil" ways - by shutting down outspoken television station Al Jazeera and abandoning its support for Iran and "terrorists".

While the intent is clear - to throttle dissenting speech and to isolate Iran, which is seen as a Saudi nemesis - sever…