First the United Arab Emirates, then Bahrain and Sudan, and now Morocco …

In the last few months, these governments have all normalized ties with Israel. Sadly, I won’t be surprised if others follow.

Palestinians see this as a betrayal of basic principles and solidarity: You don’t side with oppressors and occupiers. You don’t reward ethnic cleansing, apartheid and colonization.

But the Trump administration and Benjamin Netanyahu are celebrating their triumphs.

And this is one of the many issues where it doesn’t make any difference who is in the White House: President-elect Joe Biden has welcomed these normalization deals as “historic” and “brave.”

The European Union too has praised the Trump administration for brokering the agreements. The British prime minister even described Arab normalization with Israel as a “step on the road to a more peaceful Middle East.”

But nothing could be further from the truth. All normalization does is embolden Israel to commit more crimes with impunity. Meanwhile, arms merchants will cash in, flooding the region with ever more sophisticated weapons purchased at the expense of people’s basic needs.

In one of the most perverse and shameless examples of what normalization means, a member of the UAE’s ruling family is investing $90 million in Beitar Jerusalem, Israel’s most racist football club.

Fans of the club, who include Netanyahu, are notorious for their anti-Arab incitement. True to form, fans greeted the news of the Emirati investment with their trademark call of “Death to the Arabs.”

I take some comfort in knowing that the sordid embrace of Israel by Arab regimes – driven by ignorance, selfish interests and greed – is overwhelmingly unpopular among the people of the region.

But I’m still worried. I see intense, well-funded efforts to brainwash the next generation into believing that it is good to embrace Israel as it violates international law, and to hell with the Palestinians.

That’s why we are fighting back.

This week, The Electronic Intifada published a big exposé of one such brainwashing effort, called Nas Daily.

Nas Daily publishes short, lighthearted videos from around the world showcasing the travels of a young Palestinian citizen of Israel called Nuseir Yassin. The videos are seemingly harmless fun.

But Nas Daily has millions of followers on Facebook – a platform Yassin also uses to promote propaganda that whitewashes Israel’s crimes and smears the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement for Palestinian rights.

Yassin – who admits to accepting money from governments – is also making propaganda videos on behalf of the UAE.

Palestinians have called for a boycott of Nas Daily because they want the world to know that he and the pro-Israel messages in his videos do not represent them.

I’m happy to say our story about Nas Daily went viral.

Yet this critical work is only possible with your support. That’s why I’m asking you to make a donation right now to keep us strong in the coming year.

Donations are tax deductible for US taxpayers and welcome from any country.

I believe we must educate and warn people about the manipulative, feel-good propaganda like Nas Daily that aims to deflect attention from Israel’s oppression and even paint it as a benefactor.

It’s even more dangerous when a Palestinian like Yassin is willing to be used in this deceptive manner.

Unlike Nas Daily, we don’t take money to promote government agendas. The Electronic Intifada’s journalism is independent because we’re supported by individuals just like you.

So please ensure we can keep up the fight in 2021 by making a donation right now.

Your gift helps support all our fantastic coverage and ensures we have the resources to pay our editors, photographers and reporters in Palestine and beyond.

Your support will help us spread truth to counter Israel’s lies.

Every time you see one of our articles, videos or photostories, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped to create it and spread knowledge to people all over the world.

Take a look at the small sample of our work from just this year that I’ve included below.

I’m proud of all my colleagues at The Electronic Intifada for doing the highest-quality work in an extraordinary and challenging year.

We can only do it together.

On behalf of all us as at The Electronic Intifada, I wish you season’s greetings and a safe and healthy new year,

Ali Abunimah
Executive Director

PS: Whether you can donate $10, $100 or $1,000, every single person makes a big difference. Thank you for your support.

Other ways to give

If you prefer not to give online, you can make a donation by check. Make your check payable to “MECCS/EI” and mail it to:

MECCS/EI
1507 E 53rd St #500
Chicago, IL 60615

We will send you a receipt. Thank you!

The work you help us do

We did great work in 2020 thanks to the support of individuals like you. Here’s a small sample of what we’ve done:

• Why child labor is common in Gaza by Isra Saleh el-Namey (1 January 2020)

• We ‘slaughtered’ Jeremy Corbyn, says Israel lobbyist by Asa Winstanley (10 January 2020)

• Is the JDL trying to start a race war in New York City? by Michael F. Brown (17 January 2020)

• How can colleges fight Israel lobby’s threats? by Nora Barrows-Friedman (22 January 2020)

• How Israel exploits Holocaust Remembrance Day by Ali Abunimah (27 January 2020)

• Muslim-Jewish “understanding” used to mask Arab ties with Israel by Tamara Nassar (4 February 2020)

• Israel’s “peace camp” flirts with oblivion by Jonathan Cook (7 February 2020)

• Palestine is (still) the issue by Louis Allday (10 February 2020)

• Trump plan exposes existential roots of conflict by Omar Karmi (13 February 2020)

• Video: “This land is our child” by Nebal Hijo, Ahmed Abu Kmail, Ibrahim Ramadan, Nour Zakkout and Khalil Abu Shammala (13 February 2020)

• How Israel stole this fisherman’s sight and sense of smell by Hamza Abu Eltarabesh (18 February 2020)

• Cops and lobbyists dominate EU working group on anti-Semitism by David Cronin (26 February 2020)

• Belgium abets Israel’s crimes by silencing its critics by Maureen Clare Murphy (29 February 2020)

• Dreaming of a life in Palestine by Ayman Amjad Yaghi (4 March 2020)

• Prisoners denied timely treatment dying in Israeli custody by Jaclynn Ashly (5 March 2020)

• Podcast Ep 16: Gaza physicians “brace for impact” by Nora Barrows-Friedman and Asa Winstanley (24 March 2020)

• Falling between the cracks in Jerusalem by J. Ahmad (30 March 2020)

• US and Israel team up to thwart war crimes probes by Maureen Clare Murphy (14 April 2020)

• European Jewish Congress promotes anti-Muslim bigotry by Ali Abunimah (21 April 2020)

• Pupils struggle to learn at home in Gaza by Ola Mousa (23 April 2020)

• Why should Palestinians talk to their oppressors? by Hind Khoudary (27 April 2020)

• COVID–19 spells disaster for Palestinians in Lebanon by Dalal Yassine (27 April 2020)

• Is there no limit to the anti-Palestinian racism of The New York Times? by Michael F. Brown (8 May 2020)

• Video: Remembering the Nakba, 72 years on by Ola Mousa and Loay al-Sawafiri (14 May 2020)

• Coronavirus gives Gulf states excuse to embrace Israel by Tamara Nassar (19 May 2020)

• Joe Biden’s hatred of Palestinians echoes his anti-Black racism by Ali Abunimah (22 May 2020)

• Facebook appoints Israeli censor to oversight board by Tamara Nassar (26 May 2020)

• Podcast Ep 18: Israel’s Mavi Marmara massacre 10 years on by Nora Barrows-Friedman and Asa Winstanley (27 May 2020)

• From Minneapolis to Palestine, racism is the common enemy by Ahmed Abu Artema (1 June 2020)

• Israel lobby sees Black Lives Matter as major strategic threat by Ali Abunimah (8 June 2020)

• Police execution of disabled Palestinian is a war crime by Maureen Clare Murphy (9 June 2020)

• European Court upholds right to boycott Israel by Ali Abunimah (11 June 2020)

• Emirati ambassador pens love letter to Israel by Tamara Nassar (12 June 2020)

• Winston Churchill’s racist legacy in Palestine by Thomas Suárez (18 June 2020)

• How Palestine advocates can support Black struggle by Kristian Davis Bailey (19 June 2020)

• EU funds Israel’s spies by David Cronin (26 June 2020)

• Did Irish minister distort truth over Israel’s settlement imports? by Ciaran Tierney (7 July 2020)

• Annexation was always on Israel’s agenda by Rajko Kolundzic (17 July 2020)

• Israeli impunity is coming to an end by Maureen Clare Murphy (19 July 2020)

• Jewish Federation monitors Chicago solidarity groups by Ali Abunimah (22 July 2020)

• 15 lessons from 15 years of BDS by Alys Samson Estapé (29 July 2020)

• Suicides spike as Gaza’s youth driven to despair by Ola Mousa (31 July 2020)

• Israel, destroyer of Lebanon, poses as its savior by Tamara Nassar (6 August 2020)

• Podcast Ep 22: Why Israel isn’t as powerful as it wants us to think by Nora Barrows-Friedman and Asa Winstanley (21 August 2020)

• This is the bogus anti-Semitism report that sank Jeremy Corbyn by Asa Winstanley (24 August 2020)

• Sadistic Facebook shuts down Gaza health ministry page by Ali Abunimah (26 August 2020)

• Pompeo courts Trump’s culture warriors in Jerusalem speech by Josh Ruebner (26 August 2020)

• A view of Palestine from a bicycle seat by Selma Dabbagh (28 August 2020)

• Meet Emgage, the pro-Israel Muslims backing Joe Biden by Ali Abunimah (9 September 2020)

• Arab League puts Palestine out to pasture by Omar Karmi (11 September 2020)

• Israel knew slain man smeared as “terrorist” was innocent by Maureen Clare Murphy (15 September 2020)

• Pandemic strains Rafah’s health services by Amjad Ayman Yaghi (21 September 2020)

• The Lancet censors Gaza health letter after pro-Israel pressure by Omar Karmi (1 October 2020)

• Muslim group Emgage raises money for pro-Israel candidates by Ali Abunimah (1 October 2020)

• Photostory: The lost potential of Jenin by Ahmad Al-Bazz and Sarah Abu Alrob (23 October 2020)

• Patients stranded in Gaza under Israel’s permit regime by Sarah Algherbawi (23 October 2020)

• German foundation cancels anti-Palestinian seminar by Adri Nieuwhof (26 October 2020)

• Genocide supporter may get top job at Israel Holocaust memorial by Ali Abunimah (29 October 2020)

• Lobby trying to reshape California education to shield Israel by Nora Barrows-Friedman (30 October 2020)

• “This is our sea” by Isra Saleh el-Namey (5 November 2020)

• Joe Biden’s love affair with Israel will pick up where it left off by Ali Abunimah (8 November 2020)

• Zoom censors events about Zoom censorship by Nora Barrows-Friedman (13 November 2020)

• Revealed: the Israel lobby’s Labour hit list by Asa Winstanley (20 November 2020)

• Tony Blinken fails up by Michael F. Brown (24 November 2020)

• Why is the PA helping the occupation again? by Ahmed Abu Artema (25 November 2020)

• Guardian censors Jeremy Corbyn cartoon by Asa Winstanley (26 November 2020)

• App makes killing Palestinians as easy as ordering pizzas by David Cronin (2 December 2020)

• Trump’s aid cuts mean harsh winter for Palestine’s refugees by Dalal Yassine (4 December 2020)

• “Gaza made us men” by Ola Mousa (7 December 2020)

• Video: A Gaza midwife tells her stories by Ola Mousa, Ahmad al-Salmi and Ahmad al-Danaf (8 December 2020)

• Legal analysis blows apart EHRC’s “Labour anti-Semitism” report by Asa Winstanley (11 December 2020)

• Opportunities vanish for Gaza’s businesswomen by Ruwaida Amer (14 December 2020)

• Israel destroys and steals $2 million worth of EU aid by David Cronin (16 December 2020)

• It is time for the one state solution to go mainstream by Awad Abdelfattah and Jeff Halper (17 December 2020)

• Israel illegally recruits Canadian citizens to its army by Nora Barrows-Friedman (21 December 2020)

• How Nas Daily whitewashes Israel’s crimes by Tamara Nassar and Ali Abunimah (21 December 2020)