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.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Dozens suffer tear-gas inhalation at Bil'in rally

Ma'an
Dozens of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals suffered tear-gas inhalation at a rally organized against the separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in on Friday, local activists told Ma'an.

The Israelis also used a foul-smelling chemical on the protesters as well as the usual CS gas. Israeli soldiers have increasingly been using the chemical to dispel the gatherings, which assemble each Friday near the barrier that cuts the village from about 60 percent of its land.

The demonstrators dressed in plastic dress, hats, gloves, and masks in order not to be affected by the chemical water and its noxious smell, the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil'in said in a statement.

Soldiers also opened fire when participants tried to access the portion of their land being cut off by the wall, which is still under construction in the village, according to the group, which has been organizing protests for the past five years against the illegal barrier.

In April a Bil'in protester, Bassem Abu Rahmeh, was killed after an Israeli soldier shot him in the chest with a high-velocity gas canister at close range.
at 8/01/2009 07:47:00 AM