Studies show that US coverage is Israeli-centric. The main bureaus for CNN, Associated Press, Time, etc. are located in Israel and often staffed by Israelis. The son of the NY Times bureau chief is in the Israeli army;"pundit" Jeffrey Goldberg served in the IDF; Wolf Blitzer worked for AIPAC. Because the U.S. gives Israel over $8 million/day - more than to any other nation - we feel it is essential that we be fully informed on this region. Below are news reports to augment mainstream coverage.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Former prisoner in Israel tells rights group about harsh conditions

Ma'an
Speaking one week after his release from Israeli prison, Salfit native Ibrahim Hamid Abdullah testified to the harsh and often inhuman conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Abdullah spoke to a lawyer with the International Solidarity Institute for Human Rights and relayed the extensive use of solitary confinement, as well as humiliation and torture. The latest tactic Israeli soldiers used, he said, was charging fines to prisoners for “silly things,” like not washing the dishes on time or walking fast enough. “One man was ordered to pay 500 shekels (130 US dollars)” he said.

“I myself was only ever charged with belonging to Hamas,” said Abdullah. He was taken from his home on 11 October 2002 and held for 50 days without charge in the Btah Tikva and Al-Julma prisons.

Full Article
at 7/07/2009 01:09:00 PM