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 12, 2011

Israeli forces disperse peaceful Palestinian rally in Hebron

Ma'an -- Israeli forces dispersed on Tuesday a non-violent rally against settlement construction and closure of shops in the center of the southern West Bank city of HebronIsraeli soldiers fired stun grenades and tear-gas canisters at the protestors, hurting many of them as they inhaled tear gas. Troops also closed the area of Ash-Shallalah street and the old Hebron building municipality. The area was announced a closed military zone, and Palestinian presence was considered a violation of military orders.

The rally was initiated by a local group of Hebron youth called the Coalition Against Settlements.

Protestors marched from Bab Az-Zawiya neighborhood toward Ash-Shuhada street. International solidarity activists joined the rally raising slogans demanding evacuation of Israeli settlers from the heart of the southern West Bank city, and re-opening its streets.

Separately, troops ransacked a printer in As-Salam street in Hebron, confiscating property. No arrests were reported.

In the nearby town of Beit Ummar, a few kilometers to the north, Israeli forces raided the home of 20-year-old Muhammad Ahmad Abu Mariyya in the early morning and detained him.

On Monday, soldiers stormed a funeral procession in the town and assaulted four young men. Spokesperson of the town’s popular committees, Muhammad Ayyad Awad, said four young men were stopped at the funeral, taken to a military monitoring tower near the northern entrance where the soldiers beat them.

He added that some soldiers tried to confiscate a camera he was using.