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.

Monday, July 11, 2011

US stepping up pressure for Palestinian-Israeli talks

Ma’an -- The US is putting huge pressure on Palestinians and Israelis to move ahead with talks, hoping to offset a planned Palestinian statehood bid at the UN in September, Israeli media reported Sunday.

Contacts between PLO official and former chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, Israeli lawyer Isaac Molcho and US envoy Dennis Ross are "intensive," Israel's Hebrew-language daily Maariv reported.

The US and Europe fear the proposed UN vote on recognition of an independent Palestinian state more than Israel does, Maariv said, as it will push them to decide between loyalty to Israel and the Arab world.

Israel's cabinet discussed on Friday the current contacts between Ross, Erekat and Molcho in Washington, the newspaper reported.

Israeli political departments believe US President Barack Obama will invite the parties including President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a summit in Washington if contacts progress, according to Maariv.

Talks between Palestinians and Israelis last collapsed in September 2010 after Netanyahu failed to renew a partial freeze on building illegal settlements in the West Bank.
at 7/11/2011 10:11:00 AM