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.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Israeli forces fire gas canisters, cause fire in Palestinian village

Ma’an -- Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters in the village of Qatana, northwest of Jerusalem, on Wednesday, causing fires which damaged fields in the village.

Qatana village spokesman Ashraf Shamasneh said that Israeli soldiers arrived in an area of the village nearby the separation wall and fired gas canisters at a home.

Fires erupted, causing damage to citrus trees and agricultural lands.

Some women and children from the village attempted to extinguish the blaze but soldiers pointed their guns at them and fired gas canisters in their direction, Shamasneh said.

This is the fourth consecutive week that soldiers have caused fires in Qatana, Shamasneh noted.

Two weeks ago Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters in the village setting fire to large areas of olive trees and fig groves.