normalization

The scene where a rocket fired from Gaza hit and caused damaged in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, October 7, 2023. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

Gaza’s shock attack has terrified Israelis. It should also unveil the context

The dread Israelis are feeling after today's assault, myself included, has been the daily experience of millions of Palestinians for far too long.

By Haggai Matar October 7, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Israeli President's Residence in Jerusalem, July 14, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Biden’s message to Bibi: Normalization is more important than democracy

At a meeting on the UN sidelines, many anticipated Biden would pressure Netanyahu to halt his anti-democratic agenda. But the U.S. has other priorities.

By Naim Mousa September 27, 2023

The signature agreements between Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water and Israel's national water company, Mekorot, at La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech, November 17, 2022. (Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post)

With Morocco normalization, Israel revives a dangerous Africa policy

Unable to reconcile its public diplomacy with colonialism at home, Israel has returned to courting key African partners through military-intelligence ties.

By Alex White August 17, 2023

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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, March 9, 2016. (Flash90)

The Middle East is leaving Palestinians behind. Will it be different with Biden?

With no strategy to counter Arab states' alignment with Israel, it is unclear how much a change in the White House will benefit Palestinians.

By Robert Swift October 29, 2020

Palestinians protest against the agreement to establish diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, September 15, 2020. (Flash90)

Normalization cannot silence Arab resistance forever

Israel will one day have to face Arab opposition to its alliances with dictators who care little for the people under their rule.

By Samah Salaime October 13, 2020

A man waves a United Arab Emirates flag outside the Israeli Prime Minister's official residence in Jerusalem, August 19, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Palestinians are a side note in the UAE-Israel political charade

With Arab regimes seeing Israel as an ally in their power struggles, Palestinians should counter normalization by finally cutting the cord on the Oslo process.

By Dana El Kurd August 27, 2020

A man takes a selfie in front of the Tel Aviv Municipality on Rabin Square, which was lit up with the flag of United Arab Emirates after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE, on August 13, 2020. (Oren Ziv)

Bibi’s digital warriors take on Arabia: How Israel won over the Gulf states

Israel has been using a web of social media accounts to produce a more favorable image among Arabs in the Gulf. With the UAE agreement, it seems these efforts are bearing fruit.

By Katie Wachsberger August 14, 2020

Palestinian youth hold a Palestinian flag outside the Aqsa Mosque in the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound, East Jerusalem. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

‘This is how you change the status quo’: Rethinking the Palestinian boycott of Jerusalem elections

Aziz Abu Sarah withdrew his historic bid for Jerusalem mayor after Israeli and Palestinian pressures, but he hopes his short campaign ‘provokes’ new ideas on how to build stronger, younger Palestinian political activism in the city. Less than a month after declaring his candidacy to become the first Palestinian mayor of Jerusalem, Aziz Abu Sarah…

By Amjad Iraqi September 28, 2018

The Israel-U.S.-Saudi alliance will likely end in disaster

By supporting the Saudi kingdom with military aid and intelligence cooperation, while ignoring the regime’s human rights abuses and support for terror organizations, Israel and the U.S. risk repeating the Cold War era’s worst mistakes. By Eitay Mack (translated by Ofer Neiman and Tal Haran) Israel and Saudi Arabia have been close partners with the American…

By +972 Magazine December 24, 2017

Left-wing activists during a protest in central Tel Aviv against the Israeli attack on Gaza, July 12, 2014. The protest ended with right-wing nationalists attacking a small group of left-wing activists with little police interference. (Photo by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israel’s national theater must resist normalizing occupation

By agreeing to perform in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, Habima is forgoing its values of Cultural Zionism while adopting the dangerous mindset of Miri Regev and Benjamin Netanyahu. By Misha Shulman Earlier this year Israeli Minister of Culture Miri Regev announced a new policy for the funding of the arts: artistic organizations…

By +972 Magazine October 28, 2016

Is crossing through Israel considered normalization? Saber Rebai's performance at the Rawabi Amphitheater (Samah Salaime)

The Tunisian star who filled Palestinians with hope — for one night

For one night, Tunisian megastar Saber Rebaï brought Palestinians in the West Bank just a modicum of normalcy. Rawabi, Arabic for “hills,” is a sleek name for a Palestinian city that was recently built between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Surrounded by settlements on all sides, the place looks like a standard Israeli bedroom community and has been dubbed “the…

By Samah Salaime August 23, 2016

Delegation of Israeli academics visiting Kadoorie University (photo: Haggai Matar

For first time in years, Israeli academics pay solidarity visit to Palestinian university

An Israeli delegation of academics visits Kadoorie University in the West Bank city of Tulkarm to show support following a string of IDF raids on the campus. For the first time in many years, a delegation of Israeli academics made an official visit to a Palestinian university. The first, small delegation arrived a month ago,…

By Haggai Matar May 13, 2016

Palestinians enter the main checkpoint separating Bethlehem and Jerusalem. (Activestills.org)

Alternative peace initiative comes under fire for ‘normalization’

Pressure from both Palestinian activists and right-wing Israelis has put the spotlight on a conference that will present a new model for peace and coexistence. That is, if it ever happens in the first place. A launch event for an alternative Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative, slated to take place next week in the West Bank, is…

By Haggai Matar June 4, 2015