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, December 19, 2009

Obama approves aid to Israel...

Ynet
Jewish state receives $2.775 billion as part of agreement granting it $30 billion in coming decade; Palestinians [may] get $500 million for first time

US President Barack Obama this week signed the 2010 foreign aid budget law which includes $2.775 billion in security aid to Israel [$7.6 million per day, which is more than to any other nation].

This is the second year the budget is transferred to the Jewish state as part of understandings that the American assistance to Israel in the coming decade will total $30 billion.

[This increase occurs despite the fact that the US runs deficits in the range of $1.4 trillion a year.]

The approved budget comprises, for the first time, $500 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority, including $100 million for the training of Palestinian security forces by American general Keith Dayton.

The aid will be handed over [only] to... a Palestinian government whose members accept the conditions ...recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting past agreements signed with the Jewish state. [Israel is not required to do the same.]

...Despite the serious financial crisis, the Americans did not raise the possibility of reducing the aid or cancelling it... [Israel is permitted, unlike all other recipients of US military aid, to use a large portion to fund its competing arms industry.]

In addition to the regular annual security aid, President Obama and the American Congress approve special additions to the Israeli defense industries for the development of technologies, particularly in the missile defense field.

The US has helped and continues to help Israel with the production line of the Arrow 2 missile defense project, which is jointly developed by the Boeing company and the Israel Aerospace Industries. For the past two years, the US has been funding the development of the Arrow 3 multilevel defense system against Iranian ballistic missile. Full story

More information and booklet that can be ordered on "The Cost of Israel to American People"