How Arab eco-normalisation of Israel covers up its crimes

This article argues that Israel is using so-called green initiatives with Arab states to "eco-normalize" its presence, effectively greenwashing its occupation and genocide in Gaza. By framing collaborations on water and energy as climate solutions, Israel masks its role in creating environmental injustice, such as water scarcity in Jordan and restricted access in the West Bank. These projects serve primarily to bolster Israel’s international image as a technological leader while obscuring the systemic oppression inflicted upon Palestinians and neighboring nations. The piece identifies "eco-normalization" as a tool of green colonialism, where renewable energy and desalination projects reinforce Israeli control over resources. Companies involved in these cross-border deals also operate illegally within occupied territories, denying local populations energy access and sovereignty. Consequently, the narrative of regional cooperation through sustainability actually extends Israeli environmental domination, exploiting marginalized communities for the benefit of the occupation while displacing the ecological burdens onto them. The article concludes that resisting these green initiatives is essential for Arab solidarity and the Palestinian struggle. It calls for global civil society to expose how "green technology" facilitates colonialism and to support boycotts against Israeli firms. Ultimately, the text asserts that dismantling this eco-normalization is a critical component of the broader fight against apartheid, urging international movements to link climate justice with anti-colonial resistance to prevent further isolation of Palestine.

Source: aljazeera.com
Published on 2023-12-13