Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- November 21, 2019

Michael Safi, The Guardian: Iran's digital shutdown: other regimes 'will be watching closely'

Blackout is part of growing trend of governments shutting citizens off from the world

Access to the internet is gradually being restored in Iran after an unprecedented five-day shutdown that cut its population off from the rest of the world and suppressed news of the deadliest unrest since the country’s 1979 revolution.

The digital blackout that commenced last Friday is part of a growing trend of governments interfering with the internet to curb violent unrest, but also legitimate dissent.

The internet-freedom group Access Now recorded 75 internet outages in 2016, which more than doubled to 196 last year. “The tactic has been around for a while, but the rate at which it is being applied now is extremely alarming,” says Berhan Taye, of the UK-based organisation.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- November 21, 2019

Iran net outage first to effectively isolate a whole nation -- Frank Bajak, AP

A new Iranian revolution? -- Haxie Meyers-Belkin, France 24

Suddenly, Iran is Aflame With Protest -- New York Post

Using Iraq and Lebanon uprisings to attack Iran will lead to disaster -- Marco Carnelos, Middle East Eye

Israeli politics churn as Netanyahu indictment adds to chaos -- Tom Allinson, DW

Netanyahu indictment could break political deadlock in Israel -- Philip Klein, Washington Examiner

Palestinians Are Abandoned, But Will Persevere -- Raja Shehadeh, Guardian

Explainer: U.S. legislation on Hong Kong: what does it mean? -- Reuters

Hong Kong's crisis is not over — nor are Xi's troubles -- Dov S. Zakheim, The Hill

Peace agreements normally fail within five years. Bougainville is a lesson to us all -- Bertie Ahern, The Guardian

Guinea-Bissau gears up for election after weeks of political turmoil -- James CREEDON, France 24

In Ukraine’s bleak east, US aid saves lives, raises morale -- Inna Varenytsia, AP

Tories Think Victory Is Theirs for the Taking -- Stephen Bush, New Statesman

After Morales: Bolivia faces uncertain future as violence rages -- David Gormezano, France 24

Donald Trump’s block on WTO judges creates ‘doomsday scenario’ for world trade disputes -- Finbarr Bermingham & Adam Behsudi, SCMP