The widespread media backlash against an Egyptian television presenter caught my attention after he hosted Israeli journalist Gideon Levy on a talk show. Under pressure from accusations of "normalization" circulating on social media, the channel suspended the presenter and removed the interview from its platforms.
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Such a reaction might have seemed understandable had the guest been any Israeli journalist other than Gideon Levy, arguably Israel's most prominent and perhaps only journalist who has consistently and courageously challenged the narrative of the country's far-right establishment while openly confronting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and criticizing his government's actions.
Jordanian and Arab media outlets frequently translate Levy's articles published in Haaretz, and political and media elites across the region regularly circulate and discuss his writings.
Long before many Arab journalists took similar positions, Levy was among the earliest voices to oppose the war in Gaza, condemning what he describes as genocide.
He has not only opposed the military campaign but has also argued that Palestinians have the right to defend their rights, expressing support for armed resistance against occupation.
His public record also reflects longstanding ties with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Levy has written about his repeated visits to Gaza during Hamas' rule and his friendships with many residents there.
Among Jordanian intellectuals and journalists, Levy is widely recognized through his writings as one of the strongest Israeli critics of Zionism, the Israeli occupation, and leading Israeli politicians, including Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich.
At a time when much of the Israeli media has been accused of justifying the war in Gaza and defending Netanyahu's policies, Levy has stood apart.
He has described the conduct of the Israeli government as "Jewish terrorism." Many readers, including the author, have expressed astonishment at the intensity of his criticism during the height of the Gaza war, questioning how someone living within Israeli society could write so boldly despite the personal risks.
Levy has himself written about receiving daily threats and enduring constant abuse.
The author says he fully understands the Arab public's opposition to normalization with Israel.
At a time when Israel is viewed by many in the region as carrying out unprecedented violence against Palestinians and other Arab populations, resisting media normalization has become an important element in the broader battle over competing narratives.
At the same time, however, the author argues that many of those who criticized Levy's appearance likely had never read a single one of his articles.
Their objections, he contends, were based solely on his Israeli nationality rather than on an informed understanding of his political and intellectual positions.
The article notes that a number of Jewish intellectuals and politicians, including some Israeli citizens such as historian Avi Shlaim, have openly opposed the war in Gaza and defended Palestinian rights.
These figures have appeared in Arab media and visited Arab capitals without provoking comparable public outrage. According to the author, Levy's criticism of Israel as a state and political system is even more outspoken than theirs.
The article concludes by questioning the distinction between translating and publishing Gideon Levy's articles in Arab newspapers while rejecting his participation in an Arab television interview.
It also asks whether Levy's writings, which strongly advocate for Palestinian rights, are not far more valuable than broadcasting speeches by Benjamin Netanyahu or press conferences held by Israeli military spokespersons.
