Is Electronic Intifada Imploding?

For quite a while now, terror-supporter and Electronic Intifada founder Ali Abunimah has been attacked for his views on Syria, which have been characterized as apathy at best and pro-Assad at worst. For example:

https://twitter.com/Augiedamous/status/760163740465586177

https://twitter.com/Marxthug/status/766455911737098240

Funny how some folk like & share my coverage of human rights in Gaza, West Bank, Yemen but suddenly don't like it re: #Syria?

— Sophie McNeill (@Sophiemcneill) August 18, 2016

This is what Abunimah has put forward as his justification for not covering Syria.

EI is a small publication whose focus is Palestine. Our coverage of Syria has also focused on its impact on Palestinians.

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) August 20, 2016

On the whole online discussion on Syria has been thoroughly poisoned by trolls, which is why many of us avoid it.

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) August 20, 2016

And naturally, implies those criticizing him are pro-Israel with an agenda to discredit those like him who are “pro palestinian” – even though they are mostly fellow Israel haters!

The goal of the campaign is not to “support Syria,” it is to damage the Palestine solidarity movement. https://t.co/vy6OrGb6ym

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) August 23, 2016

I’ve noticed a distinct similarity between the tactics of the Syria trolls and fanatical Islamophobes ->

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) August 23, 2016

Sad to see this troll using the horror in Syria to grind his axe of pushing Israel lobby’s attacks on Palestine. https://t.co/RTzmHNESnq

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) October 4, 2016

I’ve never seen more dishonesty than the small group of trolls exploiting the horror in Syria to pursue their campaign against Palestinians.

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) October 4, 2016

But now things have gotten a whole lot worse for Ali and company, with the latest turn of events: Electronic Intifada editor and fellow terror supporter Rania Khalek accepted an invitation to speak at an Assad-affiliated conference, leading to widespread condemnation by those who might otherwise be her allies, as well as accusations she – like Abunimah – is pro Assad.

Wow: Rania Khalek and Sharmine Narwani featured along w Syria regime war criminals at controversial conference https://t.co/apKpv7Ocv2

— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) October 29, 2016

Will @MaxBlumenthal, @AliAbunimah, @BenjaminNorton still say they aren't pro-Assad while refusing to condemn this?https://t.co/XrHkOOSFkw

— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) October 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/Augiedamous/status/792501472051146752

https://twitter.com/Augiedamous/status/792487835374718976

I feel angry and depressed that Rania Khalek can strut like a peacock in Damascus, my home city, while I haven't seen it in five years.

— Maysaloon (@Maysaloon) October 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/792494534739525635

I try not to question people's integrity, but going to a conference in Syria with senior regime figures is probably a fair exception

— Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) October 29, 2016

Tellingly, even some of her fellow EI contributors pushed her – and EI – under the bus.

As reporters our job is to expose institutions of power, not participate in efforts to whitewash or legitimize them.

— Charlotte Silver (@CharESilver) October 30, 2016

If a journalist can't figure out the nature of a conference she's speaking at, she's been discredited as a reliable judge of info + sources.

— Charlotte Silver (@CharESilver) October 30, 2016

Cofounder of @Intifada Laurie King says @RaniaKhalek's Syria trip "disgusts" her in Facebook post, slams EI as "pro-Assad". pic.twitter.com/Y8UYUADmxn

— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) October 30, 2016

Reputation in shambles, EI fires Rania Khalek. her now ex EI colleagues disavow her to try to preserve whatever appearances are left. pic.twitter.com/8MAhBFiUjz

— Weddady (@weddady) October 30, 2016

Khalek tried to explain her actions

Statement on my visit to Syria with other international journalists pic.twitter.com/zf5tZLtaR7

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) October 29, 2016

pic.twitter.com/i2Ip1wW0tV

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) October 30, 2016

But then announced her resignation from EI.

The outrageous attacks against me have expanded to @intifada. So I'm stepping down as an editor. The professional smear artists won.

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) October 30, 2016

Although there are those who believe she was sacked.

She didn't walk, she was pushed. @RaniaKhalek crossed the line from tacit to explicit Assadism. For what it's worth @intifada deserve credit pic.twitter.com/AsqFE0LMX4

— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) October 30, 2016

Perhaps it is too early for a Norwegian doctor to confirm EI’s demise, but I am enjoying this.

Too late. They already destroyed their brand.

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

https://twitter.com/Budour48/status/792604230523752448

After years of fine journalism, the obtuse and abrasive nature of @intifada's senior figures has caught up with them https://t.co/j1JTmgMeP2

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

So Rania has "stepped down" as @intifada editor, after some bizarre self-sabotage that drove its brand to the groundhttps://t.co/7fjdiRMhMX

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

Recent conduct of @intifada figures is a lesson for how you can build a strong activism brand, then destroy it in a few disastrous weeks. pic.twitter.com/aXASBFTOXN

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

This is also a lesson for how misguided blowhards can hide behind deeply moral struggles, such as the struggle for justice in Palestine.

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

For years they used Palestine as a fig leaf; as an "instantly gain moral high ground" card.

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

They poisoned the minds of many into being suspicious and dismissive of the some of the bravest native Syrian and Palestinian voices.

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

Recently even a co-founder of @intifada has said that they are pro-Assad.https://t.co/mhFc3lxAUc

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) October 30, 2016

https://twitter.com/borzou/status/792775915214401537

About the author

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media

Is Electronic Intifada Imploding?

About the author

David Lange

David Lange

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