News and Analysis (11/23/19)

As “a brief semblance of normalcy” appears to have ended in Kashmir…

• Kashmir Shuts Down: Shops, Business Establishments Closed for Third Consecutive Day (India Today)

… “Afghan public opinion is generally hostile to Pakistan, the position on Kashmir is … changing and not entirely favorable to New Delhi”…

• Kashmir Could Wreck India’s Reputation Among Afghans (Foreign Policy)

The UK Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed that UK position on settlement has not changed: They are illegal under international law and present an obstacle to peace and the viability of two-state solution …

• The Importance of Israel and Palestine Living in Peace (gov.uk)

… but notwithstanding the EU statement on the illegality of the settlements, past experience suggests the aggression will continue if the law is not enforced, nor will the Palestinians cease to resist

• Irrespective of All the Pressure on Them, Not Least This Latest Transgression Against International Law, the Palestinians Will Not Give Up (The Guardian)

India was among 166 nations that endorsed Palestinian “right to self-determination”, sticking to its stance towards the Palestinian cause:

• India Joins 164 Countries to Vote in Favour of Palestinians’ Right to Self-determination (India Today)

Right-wing Hindu students object to a Muslim teaching Sanskrit ancient classical language of Hinduism:

• Indian Muslim Sanskrit Professor in Hiding After Rightwing Protests (The Guardian)

“Banks and petrol stations were set ablaze as protests spread across the country and demonstrators clashed with security forces” …

• Iran Petrol Protests: ‘100 Leaders’ Arrested in Crackdown (BBC)

… Iran’s response of shutting down the Internet has precedents in Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, while laws to do the same have been passed in Russia but failed in the U.S.:

• How Iran Turned Off the Internet (Slate)

“There is no evidence … that … financial stress is forcing Iran to change its regional behavior”:

• Donald Trump’s Huge Policy Mistake in Iran (The National Interest Online)

“A Muslim woman has been hailed as “incredibly brave” after she confronted a man over his antisemitic rant at a Jewish father and son on the Tube” …

• Muslim Woman Confronts Man over Antisemitic Rant at Jewish Father and Son on Tube (Sky News)

… but, absent violence, police declined to call a woman’s berating a Muslim women for wearing ahead scarf a hate crime, only citing her for disturbing the public …

• Police Cite Andover Woman After a Confrontation with Muslim Woman Wearing Hijab at Manchester Mall (Hartford Courant)

… and “a heavily pregnant Muslim woman who was repeatedly punched and stomped on during a suspected racially motivated attack in a western Sydney cafe” …

• Pregnant Muslim Woman ‘Fears for the World’ After Suspected Racially Motivated Assault in Parramatta Cafe (ABC)

… while the French Conservative Party favors banning the veil in public:

• French Debate Extending Ban on Muslim Headscarf (NPR)